European and African leaders come together for a long-delayed EU-Africa summit in Brussels on 17-18 February in an attempt to frame the two neighbouring continents’ partnership with a number of initiatives, agreements and investment pledges.
The EU will seek to increase its investment and influence in Africa, in the face of a growing Chinese presence there, and competition from the likes of Russia, the UK, Turkey and the United States.
In turn, it will try to agree on a more orderly security architecture in Africa, particularly in the wake of a series of recent military coups in Western Africa. Regulating migration will almost certainly feature high on the summit agenda as well.
The issue of COVID vaccines and waiving intellectual property rights on them, which would allow African states to produce their own versions, is among the most contentious subjects, with some African countries accusing the EU of hypocrisy and ‘vaccine nationalism’.
EU leaders may also hold a separate mini-summit, possibly over dinner, to discuss the growing tensions caused by the amassing of Russian troops around Ukraine’s borders, and the bloc’s possible response in case of a Russian military invasion.
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Russia threat to eclipse EU-Africa summit
EU leaders are gathering for a summit with African counterparts on Thursday (17 February), which is likely to be overshadowed by discussions on the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
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EU-AU summit: Seeking a partnership with a purpose
Two years after the EU set out its blueprint for a ‘strategic partnership’ with Africa, the EU-African Union summit designed to seal the deal takes place in Brussels next Thursday (17 February). A series of glossy initiatives and promises will be unveiled but much still hangs in the air.
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EU sets out plan to support Africa for the next pandemic
The EU has made a coordinated push to help support African states to prepare their health systems for the next pandemic, but without appearing to give any ground on the main short–term demand of African leaders to allow them to produce COVID vaccines.
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Global Europe Brief: Clouds gather over EU military missions in Africa
In this week’s edition: EU's military engagement in Africa, diplomatic withdrawals from and diplomacy continuing over Ukraine.
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EU aims to make Africa a world champion in hydrogen exports
Europe wants to get out of fossil fuels and build a hydrogen economy. Without enough internal supplies, it is looking to import large quantities of hydrogen from countries in the Global South. EURACTIV Germany reports.
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EU top executives: Administering COVID vaccines is now priority in Africa
Too many doses of vaccines delivered to Africa are wasted, according to both the French EU Council presidency and the European Commission, who now want to strengthen local health systems to ensure that these doses are administered to the population.
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Germany seeks key role in new EU-Africa policy
The German government hopes the EU-Africa Summit that ends Friday (18 February) will mark a new beginning in Africa policy, with development and energy policy, in particular, being at the forefront. EURACTIV Germany reports.
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Leaders promise ‘new spirit’ of EU-Africa partnership but divides remain
EU and African leaders wrapped up a two-day summit in Brussels on Friday (18 February) with both sides stressing that the promise of a ‘partnership of equals’ and a 'new spirit' of relations would become reality.
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EU-AU summit makes big health promises, but not on IP waivers
EU and African leaders laid out a number of promises to secure equitable access to vaccines at the end of a two-day summit in Brussels on Friday (18 February). No decision on lifting intellectual property rights was reached, however.
