On Thursday 16 December, the Heads of State or Government of the EU27 will hold an exchange of views in preparation for the sixth European Union/African Union summit, which is intended to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two institutions through a joint strategy adapted to the new challenges.
The objective is to prepare “the European Union/African Union summit to be held in Brussels on 17 and 18 February 2022 with the aim of establishing an alliance of prosperity and stability underpinned by a transformational investment package”, underlines the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in his letter of invitation to the EU27.
EU leaders should identify the issues to be addressed and possible concrete results to be expected to serve this purpose, according to the draft conclusions dated 13 December and seen by EUROPE.
“It is an ambitious task to organise - we always defend the interest of Africa and we will look at how to develop a real partnership - we want to be an alternative to other offers on the market”, an EU source said on Wednesday.
In view of the European Council, the Foreign Ministers identified as priorities the fight against the coronavirus through the provision of vaccines and effective vaccination, peace and security, good governance, the green and digital transition, and cooperation in international fora (see EUROPE 12852/4).
The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, speaking on Tuesday in the European Parliament, called for a more equitable partnership that would allow for the economic recovery and prosperity of Africa in the interest of both continents.
This EU/AU summit was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, but had to be postponed several times, notably because of the coronavirus. In the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, referred to “the summit planned for the spring” under the French Presidency of the Council.
French President Emmanuel Macron has already outlined the expectations of the future French Council Presidency for this EU/AU summit (see EUROPE 12850/17).
See the draft conclusions: https://bit.ly/3pYPkUg (Original version in French by Aminata Niang and Pascal Hansens)