How to Ensure Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Renewable Energy? 507.39 KB - Informal workshop-style exchanges facilitated by an international expert aiming at identifying best practices in a given area. In the context of the current pandemic, the EU- Africa Business Forum (EABF) has been postponed. The authors of this paper argue that the needs and expect… The Strategy Groups will be further developed and operate in coordination with the newly established Africa-Europe Foundation lead by the Friends of Europe think-tank and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, in partnership with ONE and the South Africa Climate Foundation. Contact us to find out more. The European Commission’s and the European External Action Service's vision of the future Africa-EU partnership is outlined in the Joint Communication “Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa” and supported by Council Conclusions. The AU-EU summit in October 2020 Event Type Online Event Series Location/Date Online, 28.05.2020 until 16.09.2020 Organiser. 1.06 MB - The year 2020 marks the beginning of a promising decade for the EU-AU relations. And how? This follows a joint decision to also postpone the EU-AU Summit, initially planned for 28-29 October 2020. Europe and Africa have close historical, cultural and geographical ties. The need to continue this type of structured dialogue between influential partners from both continents was evident, with the longer term goal of identifying and discussing major challenges, global as well as regional, affecting both Africa and Europe and to see how both continents can best work together to live up to these challenges. The time has come to review the nature of the relationship – or partnership – that the EU has with Africa. The AU-EU summit brought together EU and African leaders to define the future direction for cooperation between the two continents. As EU-Africa relations is an important subject for EBS, we will continue the discussion at the European Business Summit in 2020. This pandemic knows no borders and, as it has demonstrated, a global response and an ability to act as an international community are essential. Our mission is to debate political, economic, social and environmental issues to promote the voices of enterprises in Europe and Africa. These proved to be highly successful platforms upon which stakeholders from both our continents could exchange ideas, best practices and make recommendations. The new COVID reality makes this relationship all the more important. The EU-Africa Business Summit is an annual event taking place in Marrakech, Morocco. Beyond good intentions: The new EU-Africa partnership Alfonso Medinilla and Chloe Teevan, ECDPM paper, March 2020 The EU and Africa are each trying to find their place in an unstable world. The theme of the 2021 Africa Summit acknowledges the incredible period of reflection that 2020 has provided. The 2020 edition of the EU-African SME summit in Rome intends to highlight the chances for entrepreneurs and define together with decision makers and experts the roads towards a successful economic cooperation of dynamic and future-oriented companies in Africa and Europe. Participants sharing their views during the panel discussions. PDF), ( Hope to see you … Agenda 2063 is the blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. Our aim is for the public and private sectors to join forces at inter-continental, regional and local levels. Although an informal meeting, it will provide the opportunity to discuss challenges such as the COVID-19 response, debt relief and access to financing for recovery. In order to move towards a more efficient partnership between the two continents, a multi-sectorial dialogue must promptly be consolidated at both institutional and business levels. The EU-Africa Summit, scheduled for October 2020, provides a key opportunity to reframe the political, social and economic partnership between the EU and Africa. The EU’s members are Africa’s main trading partners, foreign investors and chief source of remittances. This will be followed by a preliminary informative report. Bruce Byiers, ECDPM blog, 16 March 2020Last week, the EU communicated its proposal for a new Africa strategy. EU-Africa relations are based on the 2000 Cotonou Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, which grew out of the 1975 Lomé Convention. 2nd EU-Africa Summit, Lisbon, Portugal, 2007. Institutionally, it began with the first Africa-EU Summit in Cairo, Egypt, in 2000, followed by the 2 nd Summit that took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in December 2007, which adopted an Africa-EU Joint Strategy (JAES) and its Action Plan. Updated information on the future EU-Africa Business Forum will follow in due course on this page. This year, the European Business Summit will feature a special EU-Africa Summit roundtable taking place in the morning of the 6th May and focusing on new perspectives in economic relations between African countries and the European Union. Africa will be a priority for our work in 2020, with some key meetings already planned, starting from this week’s annual meeting between the European Commission and the African Union Commission, followed by the EU-AU meeting of foreign ministers in Kigali later this year and finally the EU-Africa Summit in October this year. Digitalisation: What are the Future Challenges for the Next Generation? Are you interested in joining one of our panels? Register now and join the exclusive, by-invitation-only Gala Dinner, The Summit took place in the prestigious setting of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, BAÏDY AGNE President of the CONSEIL NATIONAL DU PATRONAT DU SÉNÉGAL DURING the panel on Skills in the Labour Market, EBS Director General Arnaud Thysen at the EUABS 2019, EU-Africa Business Summit offers media partnership opportunities - contact us to discuss the details. The fifth African Union - European Union (AU-EU) summit took place on 29-30 November 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. PDF), ( It proposes to work together on five key global trends: These proposals build on a growing momentum in EU-Africa relations. High-level keynote speakers, such as C-level representatives and decision-makers set the tone with inspirational speeches. Updated information on the future EU-Africa Business Forum will follow in due course on this page. Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said on Thursday that “Portugal’s presidency of the European Union (EU) in the first half of 2021, will have a summit meeting between Europe and Africa. The EU and Africa: Should, would, could… but how? This includes the Debating Africa-EU series which Commissioner Urpilainen has been a patron of, and in which other Commissioners from both the EU and African Union have taken part. While the list of proposed actions is commendable, it raises the questions: Who? In the context of the current pandemic, the EU- Africa Business Forum (EABF) has been postponed. Speech by President Charles Michel at the official dinner of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa It is an honour and privilege for me to take the floor as the voice of Europe before you, in Ethiopia, the land of origins and the cradle of the last Nobel Peace Prize. The EU’s relationship with Africa is a key priority for the Commission. The LSE Africa Summit is excited to present its 7th Annual Africa Summit with the theme The Global Crisis as a Catalyst for Change. Informal dialogues with well-known personalities for their leadership and expertise in their field. The debates involved a broad exchange around the key themes of the proposed EU strategy with Africa and have been an opportunity for young people, civil society, business sector and policy-makers to share their vision for and comments on the future of the partnership. Ahead of the Summit, an Africa-EU Leaders’ meeting will take place on 9th December 2020, to maintain the momentum of our outreach at its highest level. Today’s Strategy with Africa is the roadmap to move forward and bring our partnership to the next level. Africa Africa-Europe relations: 2020 was a lost year. A new date for the Summit has yet to be set. Business Why Brexit is a turning point for Europe-Africa relations. His predecessor, Federica Mogherini, said almost the same at the EU-Africa summit in November 2017. Therefore, this summit is incredibly timely, able to reflect the EU recovery plan presented by the European Commission and to showcase the positive contribution of businesses in making Europe a green, digital and a more resilient economic model. To frame the negotiations, a European Commission communique proposed key areas for consideration: green transitions and energy access, digital transformation, sustainable growth and jobs, peace and governance, and migration and mobility. But then COVID-19 happened. 17 / 04 / 2020 10th African Union Commission – European Commission Meeting - Joint Communique Communication on a new Africa – Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs: Taking our partnership for investment and jobs to the next level Ahead of the Summit, an Africa-EU Leaders’ meeting will take place on 9th December 2020, to maintain the momentum of our outreach at its highest level. The UK's exit from the EU could be an opportunity for African countries. Africa is the European Union’s natural partner and neighbour. A new structure and approach was established with the support of the EU under five Africa-Europe Foundation Strategy Groups in the areas of Health, Digital, Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems, Sustainable energy and Transport and Connectivity. The priorities outlined in our Joint Communication “Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa” remain pertinent to ensure a sustainable and resilient recovery: boosting economic relations, creating jobs in both continents and deepening our partnership. We hope to see you all in 2021! 3.69 MB - The Summit's postponement has given more time to deepen discussions with our African partners and all stakeholders from both Continents, to hear their views on the EU proposed priorities. The 6th summit had been to reaffirm and renew the partnership between the two blocks already in October 2020, but it was pushed back to the first quarter of 2021 or even later due to COVID-19 crisis. PDF), ( A new date for the Summit has yet to be set. Lorena Boix Alfonso, Acting Director of the Policy STrategy and Outreach at DG CNECT (European Commission) on Digitalisation and the Future Challenges for the Next Generation. Deepening cooperation based around shared interests and values will enable both sides to achieve their common goals and to tackle global challenges. Saving digital trade. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the growing urgency of the climate crisis show at the same time how interdependent our two continents are, and why it is so important that both continents act urgently to seize the shared opportunities that lie ahead and to tackle the common challenges that we all face. The EU, for its part, has made it clear that it hears the African Union. Together they adopted a joint declaration outlining common priorities for the EU-Africa partnershipin four strategic areas: 1. economic opportunities for youth 2. peace and security 3. mobilit… The Role of Women Entrepreneurs in Africa, Dedicated Session on Circular Economy and Green Industries, Highlights from the EU-Africa Business Summit 2019, Media Highlights from the EU-Africa Business Summit 2019. The 2020 edition of the EU-African SME summit in Rome intends to highlight the chances for entrepreneurs and define together with decision makers and experts the roads towards a successful economic cooperation of dynamic and future-oriented companies in Africa and Europe. PDF), Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), Joint Communication “Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa”, Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa, Joint Communication - Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa, EU paves the way for a stronger, more ambitious partnership with Africa, Questions & Answers: Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa, Factsheet - Towards a Strategy with Africa, A Partnership for the Green Transition and Energy Access, A Partnership for Sustainable Growth and Jobs, A Partnership for Peace, Security and Governance.