The European Union and Africa are bound by a shared history, linguistic and cultural connections, and a deeply interlinked geopolitical future. In light of the pressing global challenges, the EU should aim to be Africa’s main partner in trade, investment, Official Development Assistance (ODA), humanitarian assistance, peace and security, energy and digital transformation. African countries together constitute the EU’s fourth-largest trading partner, while the EU is collectively Africa’s largest export market; and the EU remains the largest development assistance and humanitarian aid donor in Africa. Yet, China, Russia, Türkiye, India and the Gulf States pursue assertive influence strategies across the continent, expanding their political influence and creating excessive economic one-sided dependencies to leverage them for political means. We should reinforce the visibility and coherence of the European Union’s engagement and communication across Africa, highlighting the concrete results of our joint actions and the added value of a European approach based on mutual respect, transparency, and sustainability.
After more than 25 years of formal partnership between Africa and the EU, this is an opportunity to rethink our approach: placing people at the centre, aiming for strong democratic institutions and economic resilience. We need to balance support with clear expectations to create a trustworthy partnership that is resilient and future ready. The upcoming years must mark the start of a modern, results-driven partnership based on equality, shared responsibility, and mutual benefits.
Read our plan for EU-Africa partnership
