Instead, the Joint EU-Africa Strategy was adopted by African and European leaders at the second EU-Africa Summit held in Lisbon in 2007. The aforementioned strategy has been implemented through multi-year roadmaps and action plans adopted at each EU-Africa summit. The goals set as early as 2007 were to go beyond donor-recipient cooperation but to establish relations between Africa and the EU in the area of political issues of common interest.

The key points of this relationship are to go beyond the “ordinary” conception of cooperation but rather to address common global challenges such as migration, climate change, peace and security and strengthen cooperation in international fora but also to support Africa’s aspirations to promote a transregional and continental response to these major challenges. Finally, also to strive for a people-centered partnership that provides for strengthening the participation of European and African citizens.

It is also important to note that the European Union in recent decades has been Africa’s largest donor.

Following the negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, development cooperation was supported by the general financial instrument called “Global Europe” fully integrated into the EU budget.

The “Global Europe” instrument brings together 10 specific instruments and funds from the MFF 2014-2020 and from the European Development Fund-EDF. Over the years it has disposed of a total budget of 79.5 billion euros, and the largest share of the amount worth 30.5 billion euros has been allocated to Africa.

In addition, some African countries located in North Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel and Lake Chad regions have also benefited from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa established in 2015. Since the Fund was launched, the total amount of funding made available for the three regional sections has increased and now amounts to nearly 5 billion euros.

The last summit between the EU and the African Union was held on February 17 and 18, 2022 in Brussels, under the co-chairmanship of Charles Michel, President of the European Council and Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and President of the African Union.

At this meeting, the representative leaders (the heads of state and government of the EU and AU) agreed on a common vision for a renewed partnership based on solidarity, security, peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity.

For the African Union, this is very important because the EU is the largest donor of development assistance through EU Regulation 2021/1974 establishing the Neighborhood, Development Cooperation and International Cooperation Instrument, which is called Global Europe.

Thus, at the summit a EUR 150 billion Europe-Africa investment package was agreed upon with the aim of promoting diversified, sustainable and resilient economies, there was also renewed enhanced cooperation on peace and security, a partnership on migration and mobility, and finally also a commitment to promote effective multilateralism within the rules-based international order centered on the United Nations.

It can be said that this has been a crucial occasion to launch a real Alliance between the two continents called to face global challenges, and the circumstance was also crucial to confirm and strengthen the partnership between the two continents.

According to the conclusions of the summit’s final report, the Global Gateway will be the European tool for channeling to the African continent all possible investments in sustainable infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of fostering the inclusive development of local populations, while also offering a common response to the profound socio-economic repercussions of the pandemic in African countries. The Global Gateway Investment Package is thus a program of approximately €300 billion of public and private investment through 2027, of which €150 billion will be allocated to the African continent. The priority areas of this investment program will cover: energy, transport and digital infrastructure, energy transition, green transition (including support for the implementation of African countries’ national plans under the Paris Agreement), digital transformation, sustainable growth with creation of decent and higher-skilled jobs, health sector thus health security and equitable access to essential health services, inclusive and equitable quality education, including the promotion of vocational education and training.

Finally at a more regional level in line with what was adopted in 2015 with the regional action plan for “Sahel 2015-2020” for preventing and countering radicalization, creating appropriate conditions for youth, migration, mobility and border management, and combating illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime has been extended on January 10, 2023. The Council also extended the mandate of the EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) until January 31, 2025, allocating more than EUR 73 million to it for the period from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2025.

In conclusion, therefore, it seems clear that African dynamics have important reflections on European ones in so many ways. For this reason, along with bilateral partnership with African countries, it is also essential to work within the various international fora, first and foremost the United Nations and the African Union, alongside the EU and its individual member states. The Euopean Union has played, is playing and will therefore play a key role in favor of the African Continent which is appreciated and recognized. This also contributes greatly to mobilizing greater resources toward Africa. Fundamental to the development of the entire contient in terms of growth, both economic, opportunities and rights.

By Michele Brunori