EU and AU pledge stronger cooperation

Foreign Ministers of the EU and the AU have agreed to strengthen their relationship, focusing on the areas of peace, security and economics, as the two continents look to implement these initiatives, not just agree on them verbally.

According to EuroNews, the new implementations and developing relationship took place on the 21st of May as the third ministerial EU-AU took place in Brussels. The meeting built on progress which originally was made at the last summit in February 2022.

A statement by the deputy chairperson of the AU made the renewed effort by both parties clear. “Both parties have reaffirmed commitments to strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation as well as preserving the integrity of international law as the foundation for a just and fair global order.”

The meeting resulted in commitments to greater collaboration in several key areas, including critical raw materials, artificial intelligence, regional integration, mobility, and migration flows. The AU outlined additional priorities such as confronting climate change, advancing food security, enhancing educational opportunities, and promoting cultural exchange between the continents.

Notably, the EU announced the appointment of a new Special Representative for the Sahel region and revealed plans for a new Sahel strategy, with EU support to African partners through the European Peace Facility already amounting to over €1 billion.

The meeting comes at a key moment for the EU, which is looking to reaffirm its partnership and cooperation with the African continent in efforts to prove they are Africa’s first ally.

This comes as the world landscape has drastically changed since the two commissions’ last meeting. Since the last meeting, Russia has launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine, the war in Gaza has unfolded and the war in Sudan has begun.

With the current world situation being in disrepair, the EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has made it clear that the EU and AU need to work together to fight the current issues in the world and strengthen their relationship at the same time.

“We have to fight the misinformation and foreign malign influence all the time, but it is, of course, increasingly hard.”

The EU is looking to end the war in Ukraine and help stabilise Europe, whilst Africa is looking to end the war in Sudan and the deadly clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the hope of both sides that in this time of tension, they can unite to help each other reach their goals.

Euronews/Maghrebi.org