Tomorrow's planned ECR Africa Summit at the European Parliament in Brussels has been postponed due to Coronavirus security measures.

Organisers took the decision to postpone the high level event scheduled for March 4 after the Parliament announced it was closing its doors to visitors.

It is now hoped that the summit, which brings together business figures and politicians from across Africa and Europe, can be reorganised for a date in early July.

The European Reformists Group in the Parliament aims to build on the success of its inaugural conference and create an annual forum to foster closer trading, economic and political ties between the two continents.

A spokesman said: “The postponement is an unavoidable disappointment, and we apologise to our stakeholders for the change in plan.

“We have taken a measured and responsible approach on public health grounds. Our ambitions remain to create a closer relationship between Africa and Europe with a summit later this year when circumstances allow.”