In a statement signed by Mrs Rejoice Esi Asante, the Press, Information and Communication Officer of the delegation of European Union to Ghana, by coincidence, March 1957 was not only the month of Ghana's independence but also the birth of EU.

“Since the birth of the European Communities in 1957, the citizens of our member States have enjoyed six decades of unprecedented peace, prosperity and security. The contrast to the first half of the 20th Century could not be greater,” the statement said.

The statement said although, two catastrophic wars in Europe between 1914 and 1945 left millions dead, and a continent devastated, divided and prostrate, European integration had been the most successful peace project especially for countries that had long been at war.

The statement said: “We are living in unpredictable times and the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties is the opportunity not only to reaffirm our commitment to the values and objectives on which the European project is founded but also to take pragmatic and ambitious steps forward.”

The EU was Ghana's first trading partner, top investor and leading source of development assistance, the statement adding that there was the need to deliberate on how to reinforce the close relationship.

The statement said a more fragile international environment called for greater engagement, not for retrenchment. ‘This is why the EU will continue to support and help the United Nations.’ “Our cooperation with the UN covers peace missions, diplomatic efforts, human rights, tackling hunger and fighting criminality.

The European Union is also a strong and active partner of regional organizations such as ECOWAS and the Africa Union.”"We stand for multilateralism, for human rights, for international cooperation. We stand for sustainable development, inclusive societies, the fight against all inequalities - in education, in democracy and human rights. For us, this is not just aid: it is also a smart investment in our own security and prosperity.”

The statement assured that EU would continue to promote international peace and security, development cooperation, human rights and respond to humanitarian crises at the heart of its foreign and security policies.