Beyond summits: The Africa-EU partnership as a priority
marianna.liana…
Wed, 03/04/2026 – 15:28
10 minutes
Africa and the European Union are bound by deep economic, political and societal ties of growing strategic significance in a rapidly shifting global landscape. While persistent development gaps remain, Africa’s sustained growth, dynamic demographics and expanding industrial ambitions position the continent as a central partner for Europe’s economic resilience, security and strategic autonomy, particularly in raw materials, value chains and labour markets. At the same time, African countries are diversifying their partnerships, with global actors intensifying their engagement across both traditional and emerging sectors – from critical raw materials and infrastructure to space and digital technologies. Keeping Africa high on the EU agenda is therefore integral to Europe’s strategic priorities in an increasingly contested global order.
The November 2025 AU-EU Summit in Luanda sent a clear political signal, reflected through high-level participation on both sides. The real test, however, lies in sustained follow-through and in effectively communicating concrete results to the public. For the EU, maintaining momentum on Africa is …read more
