Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa

Summary:

Joint Communication published by the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 9 March 2020, setting out the basis for a new strategy with Africa.

Further information:

This Joint Communication sets out proposals to intensify cooperation through partnerships in five key areas:

• Green transition and energy access;
• Digital transformation;
• Sustainable growth and jobs;
• Peace and governance;
• Migration and mobility.

This document was designed to frame discussions with African partners towards a new joint strategy, ahead of formal endorsement at a summit between the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU) later in the year. Building on this Communication, a set of conclusions on the EU-Africa relations was approved by the Council of the European Union on 30 June 2020. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted a report in reaction to this Strategy on 25 March 2021.

Official

European Commission: Topics: Africa-EU Partnership https://ec.europa.eu/international-partnerships/topics/africa-eu-partnership_en

General Secretariat of the Council: Policies: EU-Africa Relations https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-africa/

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-stronger-europe-in-the-world/file-towards-a-comprehensive-strategy-with-africa

European Commission: Press Release, 09/03/2020: EU paves the way for a stronger, more ambitious partnership with Africa https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_373

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa (9 March 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_375

European Commission: Remarks by HR/VP Josep Borrell and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen at the press conference on the Joint Communication towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa (9 March 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_428

EPP Group: News, 09/03/2020: Europe needs a true partnership with Africa https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/europe-needs-a-true-partnership-with-africa

ECR: Articles, 09/03/2020: The ECR Group endorses the European Commission’s EU-Africa Strategy https://ecrgroup.eu/article/the_ecr_group_endorses_the_european_commissions_eu_africa_strategy

Renew Europe Group: News, 10/03/2020: The EU - Africa Strategy must bring a new narrative and build a strong inclusive partnership https://reneweuropegroup.eu/en/news/1453-the-eu-africa-strategy-must-bring-a-new-narrative-and-build-a-strong-inclusive-partnership/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 30/06/2020: “On the path to a deeper and stronger partnership, living up to the European and African aspirations”: Council adopts conclusions on Africa https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/06/30/on-the-path-to-a-deeper-and-stronger-partnership-living-up-to-the-european-and-african-aspirations-council-adopts-conclusions-on-africa/

European Parliament: Press Release, 28/01/2021: Empowering Africa: MEPs vote on strategy for a new EU-Africa partnership https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210122IPR96230/

EPRS: At a Glance, March 2021: A new EU-Africa Strategy – A partnership for sustainable and inclusive development https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)690516

European Parliament: Press Release, 25/03/2021: Empowering Africa: Parliament defines strategy for a new EU-Africa partnership https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210322IPR00522/

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News

EurActiv, 09/03/2020: EU unveils ‘partnership plans’ for new Africa strategy https://www.euractiv.com/section/africa/news/eu-unveils-partnership-plans-for-new-africa-strategy/

Associated Press, 09/03/2020: EU unveils Africa strategy to counter China, US interest https://apnews.com/427298ce23af6c00329570fbeca1cf27

Reuters, 09/03/2020: EU unveils green Africa policy, seeks new start after migrant crisis https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN20W1MH

EUObserver, 10/03/2020: EU declares Africa 'most important' global partner https://euobserver.com/foreign/147676

Deutsche Welle, 21/04/2020: Coronavirus: Debt relief key to helping Africa, says EU Commissioner https://p.dw.com/p/3bE96

EurActiv, 22/09/2020: Pandemic has derailed EU-Africa strategy, concedes Borrell https://www.euractiv.com/section/botswana/news/pandemic-has-derailed-eu-africa-strategy-concedes-borrell/

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Commentary and Analysis

Politico: Tag: EU in Africa https://www.politico.eu/tag/eu-in-africa/

Foreign Policy, 10/02/2020: It’s Africa’s Turn to Leave the European Union https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/10/african-union-european-union-trade/

Euronews, 11/03/2020: Will 2020 be a pivotal year for Africa-EU relations? Not without dialogue and mutual respect https://www.euronews.com/2020/03/11/will-2020-be-pivotal-year-for-africa-eu-relations-not-without-dialogue-mutual-respect-view

EUObserver, 12/03/2020: EU's new Africa strategy misses the mark https://euobserver.com/opinion/147686

IPS Journal, 01/04/2020: The EU's Africa strategy falls short https://www.ips-journal.eu/regions/africa/article/show/the-eus-africa-strategy-falls-short-4196/

IAI: Commentaries (No 24), April 2020: A Tale of Two Unions: Africa, Europe and a Pragmatic Investment in Multilateralism in Times of COVID-19 https://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/tale-two-unions-africa-europe-and-pragmatic-investment-multilateralism-times-covid-19

ECFR: Commentary, 08/06/2020: After covid: Resetting Europe-Africa relations for mutual benefit https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_after_covid_resetting_europe_africa_relations_for_mutual_benefit

EPRS: Briefing, June 2020: A Comprehensive EU Strategy for Africa https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EXPO_BRI(2020)603506

EPRS: Briefing, June 2020: A Comprehensive EU Strategy for Africa - Development, Humanitarian Aid and Climate Change https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EXPO_BRI(2020)603508

EPRS: Briefing, June 2020: A Comprehensive EU Strategy for Africa - Political Dialogue: Governance, Security and Migration https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EXPO_BRI(2020)603507

ISS Africa: ISS Today, 27/07/2020: Refocusing the Africa-EU strategy https://issafrica.org/iss-today/refocusing-the-africa-eu-strategy

ECFR: Commentary, 30/07/2020: The inevitable partner: Why Europe needs to re-engage with Africa https://ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_inevitable_partner_why_europe_needs_to_re_engage_with_africa/

IPS Journal: Interview, 28/08/2020: 'African interests differ fundamentally from those of the EU' https://www.ips-journal.eu/interviews/african-interests-differ-fundamentally-from-those-of-the-eu-4598/

Elcano Royal Institute: Blog, 23/09/2020: European Union’s foreign policy and technology in Africa https://blog.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/european-unions-foreign-policy-and-technology-in-africa/

EPC: Commentary, 16/10/2020: Europe’s pivot to Africa: Shaping the future of the strategic partnership https://www.epc.eu/en/publications/Europes-pivot-to-Africa-Shaping-the-future-of-the-strategic-partners~381954

Deutsche Welle, 20/11/2020: Africa-Europe relations: 2020 was a lost year https://p.dw.com/p/3lVoW

ISPI: Commentary, 21/12/2020: The EU’s New Africa Strategy and Individual Member States’ Policies https://www.ispionline.it/en/pubblicazione/eus-new-africa-strategy-and-individual-member-states-policies-28660

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