The African Union-European Union summit – the first of its kind, but the fifth summit of heads of state and government of the two continents – is to be held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire on 29-30 November and is expected by the EU to be the opportunity to give new momentum to a ten-year partnership that is faced with unprecedented challenges of growth, migration and sustainable development in a world that is increasingly unsafe.
Billed as focusing on youth, the summit is expected to mark a turning point in the resolve of European and African leaders to work together on job creation and investment in Africa in order to provide prospects of prosperity to the two continents that are closely linked, both historically and geographically. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat both share this point of view (see EUROPE 11910).
"The fact that this is the first AU-EU summit illustrates that the political relationship with the African continent is being stepped up in a new context. It will mark the turning point in relations between the EU and Africa. Both continents have shared interests. Everything that happens in Africa has a direct impact on Europe, whether it is about security, migration or economic prospects", a senior official stated on Thursday 23 November, as preparations for the summit heat up.
The EU will be represented by European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The list of participants that had confirmed their attendance was still being put together on Thursday. "All the member states that have very strong links with Africa will be represented at the head of state level", the same EU source stated.
The AU-EU summit will be organised in four sessions: - economic growth, job creation and education; - migration; - peace and security; - and governance. It is expected to result in a political statement and in concrete commitments from the AU and EU.
Areas of action approved for external investment plan. In Abidjan, the EU will be able to announce to its African partners the operationalisation of the EU external investment plan. This is expected to raise €44 billion in private investment, mainly for Africa and the EU's neighbouring countries, by 2020 in order to fight the deep-rooted causes of illegal migration. On Thursday, the European Commission approved the five priority areas for intervention of the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD). These are: - renewable energy and connectivity; - financing micro-enterprises and small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); - sustainable agriculture; - sustainable cities (municipal infrastructure, mobility and waste management); - digital serving sustainable development (see EUROPE 11877). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)