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Building a stronger partnership between Africa and Europe
Important intercontinental dialogue

Experts from both continents discussed the priorities that Africa’s negotiators should push for in formulating a new Africa-EU strategy at this seminar just co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). A large, engaged audience joined and spoke to the relevance of this topic.

Flags are symbolic - How can a stronger partnership between Africa and Europe be built?

How can a stronger partnership between Africa and Europe be built?

ISS; ISS

African states and the European Union (EU) are expected to discuss the next Africa-EU strategy in the coming months. The African Union (AU), through the appointment of the AU High Representative on the future of AU-EU Relations, started preparing for the negotiations in 2018. The AU, regional economic communities and respective member states must now ensure that the continent’s priorities are properly reflected.

A new ISS report that explores opportunities for a mutually beneficial partnership rooted in common principles was just launched and informed discussions.

Live online: Facilitating a crucial intercontinental conversion

Facilitating a crucial intercontinental conversion

ISS; ISS

Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects at the ISS, chaired a crucial conversation between leading expert speakers from both continents. Amongst them were:

- Amb. Salah Hammad, Head of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat, Department of Political Affairs, AUC

- Patrick Dupont, Head of Political, Press and Information, EU's delegation to the AU

- Hafsa Maalim, Policy Analyst, AU

- Geert Laporte, Deputy Director, ECDPM

- Tsion Tadesse Abebe, Senior Researcher, ISS

Their contribtions were followed by a  Q & A session. 

 

The new report just published with HSF support is titled "Relations between Africa and Europe: mapping Africa’s priorities". This is its introduction:

"Negotiations around a new Africa-European Union (EU) strategy are expected to culminate in its adoption at a summit in October 2020. African negotiators should ensure that the continent’s priorities are integrated into the strategy. These include poverty reduction, health, digital access, small and medium enterprises, remittances, transport infrastructure, and the blue economy. More emphasis could also be given to Illicit financial flows, the brain drain and debt cancellation."

Read the report here.

 

A recording of the event has been made available - you can watch it here:

At this ISS Seminar held in September 2020, experts and high-level decision makers from Africa and Europe explored the potential focus areas of the new partnership between the two continents currently being discussed, and priorities which Africa’s negotiators should push for.

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