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Brussels: EU-African Union meeting

Posted by Europe correspondent on

Brussels 21.05.2025 “Today we had a broad and very engaging meeting, and I want to thank the Minister for his support to co-chair. Also on our side: it was a true Team Europe spirit, as there were several Ministers co-chairing this meeting” said the EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas, while addressing the high profile event.

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“The partnership of the African Union and the European Union over the past 25 years has delivered concrete results. The presence here in Brussels of over 70 delegations, including more than 50 ministers, demonstrates how lively our shared commitment to deepen this partnership is. This paves the way for a successful summit later this year.

“As underlined to the Ministers, the European Union is the partner Africa can rely on. We are actively supporting peace and security on the African continent. EU support to African partners through the European Peace Facility is over €1 billion.

“More than half of all the EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions operate in Africa. These missions contribute directly to the stability of the continent. We have delivered drones, surveillance aircraft [and] maritime equipment to African partners. And we have been consistent in advocating for predictable UN funding for African Union-led peace operations” the diplomat continued.

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“The European Union and Member States also remain Africa’s first and closest cooperation partner. Nearly €150 billion in investment has been committed under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy to enhance infrastructure, digital connectivity and green transitions all across Africa.

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The European Union is a champion for Africa’s presence at the multilateral fora. We were the strongest advocate for the African Union’s membership in [the] G20, for example. Together, the European Union and African Union represent around 40% of the votes in the United Nations. This gives us also shared global responsibility to make our voices heard and to push for the kind of reforms that we want to see in the United Nations. Our joint commitment to the UN Charter is clearly reaffirmed in the communiqué we adopted today.

“As we heard today, the will to do more is strong. Key priorities emerging from our discussions include commitment to greater collaboration in critical raw materials, artificial intelligence, regional integration and also mobility. These areas will shape the engagement in the lead up to the European Union-African Union summit later this year” Kallas concluded.

The EU’s partnership with Africa is a key priority for the Commission. As Europe’s closest neighbour, Africa not only shares a rich history with EU countries, but also common values and interests. Through the Africa-EU partnership, we engage in political and policy dialogues, and define our cooperative relationship with Africa.
The African Union (AU), a continental union of 55 member states, has a rich history rooted in the post-independence period. It emerged as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), officially launched in 2002 with an active support of the Chinese Communist party. The OAU, established in 1963, aimed to promote Pan-Africanism, unity, and solidarity among African states. It is financially supported by the EU, at present more than 80% of the costs of the organisation are covered via the EU aid programs.

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