Physical Address
Indirizzo: Via Mario Greco 60, Buttigliera Alta, 10090, Torino, Italy
Luanda, the capital of Angola, has been hosting the 7th edition of the European Union – African Union summit since Monday. Several European and African leaders took part in this summit, which marks the 25th anniversary of the EU – AU partnership.
Representing the President of the Republic, the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, arrived Sunday in Luanda to take part in the work of this meeting, whose watchword is cooperation and partnership between the European Union (AU) and the African Union (EU).
It should be noted that the holding of this summit comes at a crucial moment for the two continents, due to a delicate geopolitical situation and commercial tensions between several poles. This summit is also being held in a context marked by the growing influence of powers, namely China, Russia, Turkey and India, on the African continent, and whose presence is increasingly noticed.
According to diplomats, the European Union wants to quickly renew its partnership with Africa because, according to the European Commission, “the EU remains Africa’s leading trading partner, ahead of China, India and the United States.” According to Brussels, at least 90% of African exports penetrate the European market – with 450 million consumers – without customs duties, thanks to preferential agreements covering 19 countries on the continent.
Placed under the theme “Strengthening peace and development through effective multilateral cooperation”, this Luanda summit will see the opening of debates around priority issues for the two continents. The discussions will focus in particular on peace and security, development, governance, migration challenges as well as the evaluation of the current partnership strategy between Africa and Europe.
In this regard, there are already several subjects as well as files for which the members of these two organizations are not on the same wavelength. Old differences have been grafted onto new differences of points of view concerning vital questions, such as the digital divide, technological transfer, health challenges, the climate and its economic and social consequences, mobility and aid or even the financing of structuring projects.
The challenges are multiple, particularly for Africans, who seek to escape their dependence, to build an integrated economy but above all to unify development policies for the well-being of African populations.
For Europeans, the objective for this summit is to achieve a strong, balanced and forward-looking partnership, as declared by António Costa, the President of the European Council.
Furthermore, the Luanda summit is being held in line with Agenda 2063, with the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations but above all with the common AU – EU vision for 2030.
80 heads of state and members of government are present in the Angolan capital. Among them, the president of the African Union Commission, the Djiboutian Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Félix Tshisekedi, the Congolese president, and even Emmanuel Macron, the French president.
Placed under the theme of promoting peace and prosperity through effective multilateralism, the summit aims to create a solid and balanced partnership between the European Union and the African Union.