On the EU-Africa Partnership

The EU and Africa face a growing number of challenges that relate to trade, investment, job creation, increasing geopolitical competition in Africa and the growing presence and involvement of foreign actors, climate change, sustainable and efficient development cooperation, education, peace and security, migration, access to vaccines, and institution building. All these challenges affect both continents and therefore require a coordinated response. However, this need for coordination is not only a challenge, it is also an opportunity. The EU and Africa must seize this opportunity to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to fully meet the development goals jointly agreed within the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In recent years, there has been a positive change in EU-Africa relations. The EU’s approach towards African states began to shift away from the donor-recipient mentality and towards a partnership on an equal footing. We should push to continue and consolidate this positive shift, as it allows both sides to pursue their own interests but also to identify common areas of cooperation.

Both sides need to commit to a closer and more effective partnership, based on mutual interests, strategic priorities and clear, long-term goals. As a guiding principle, I advocate for an EU-Africa partnership that is based on reciprocity, shared responsibilities, solidarity, and the mutual benefit of equal partners.