Introduction

The Joint Africa-European Union (EU) strategy launched in 2007 during the Lisbon Summit. The African Union (AU)-EU Partnership, was officially established at the first Africa-EU Summit held in Cairo in 2000 to boost sustainable development and economic cooperation between Africa and Europe.1

Overview

Trade relations between Africa and Europe have gradually evolved over time – but faced a specific transitional period from 1975 to 2000. In 1975, the Lomé Convention was signed and non-reciprocal trade preferences were introduced. In 2000, the first Europe-Africa Summit was held in Cairo, concluding the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.2

In relation to peace efforts, Africa and Europe’s cooperation is based on the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA),  and is partly reflected in the 2018 AU-EU MoU on Peace, Security and Governance. This serves several purposes, including combating terrorism, extremism, instability, and radicalization and addressing the causes of conflicts.3 Summits involving the EU and AU heads of states and governments are held every three years.4

The 6th African Union-European Union Summit, where a joint vision for a renewed partnership was agreed on by both unions, was held in Brussels in 2022.5 The joint vision for 2030 was adopted by the Summit and is aimed at reinforcing a renewed partnership for prosperity, sustained and sustainable economic development, security, peace, and solidarity.6 A commitment was made towards promoting cooperation in relation to peace through supporting African-led Peace Support Operations, equipment, training, and capacity building, as well as reinforcing peace operations of African defense and security forces.7

Challenges

The AU-EU Partnership is facing multiple challenges regarding trade, development, and peace.

With a total volume of goods valued at $268 billion Euro in 2021 and 90% of African exports entering the European Union duty-free, the EU is considered the main trade partner of Africa.8 At the same time, the EU has been supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),9 through an initiative that aims at assisting African states to have diversified productive capabilities and incorporate them into global and regional value chains.10

Despite the willingness to move forward by African and European countries, the AU-EU Partnership is hindered by several missed opportunities.11 Although the main partnership’s purpose was to achieve economic growth and development through economic and trade integration and cooperation, other issues have assumed prominence at their expense such as migration, security, and peace.12

One of the challenges is the nature of both the AU and the EU. The AU member-states have commercially fractured territories besides divisions along geographical, religious, cultural, and ethnic lines.  These divisions together with the different agendas of every African country and the lack of a shared vision, weaken the AU internationally.13

Another challenge is the inconsistency of the trade and development policy frameworks and the trade imbalance between the member states of both regional organizations. Different factors contribute to this imbalance, including structural inequalities and the dependency of the AU countries, which was the consequence of their colonial histories, slow economic growth and lack of economic foresight. Moreover, the EU is considered the largest contributor of aid to the African Union Commission, as it offers 80% of its programme budget.14 Therefore, the relationship between the EU and AU cannot be considered as one between equal partners.15

The EU program on development in Africa, which was launched by the EU in 2014, hinders an equal relationship and increases the dependency of the AU on the EU.16 The short-sighted and limited interaction with the EU focuses on issues such as basic rights and aid, rather than trade, innovation, and benefitting from the EU’s skills and experience.17

A total average annual growth rate of 4.6% was recorded in some AU member-states over the last few years (starting from 2021), alongside weak economic growth and governance structures.  The potential for equal relations in trade and development between the AU and EU is hindered by the failure in implementing structural changes and transformations in critical areas, for instance, digitalization and urbanization in the AU member countries. Moreover, the AU is made up of 55 diverse member states in North Africa, South Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, which are challenged by slow economic growth and economic vulnerability.18 Africa is considered one of the poorest continents in the world with insufficient capital, as since 1975, its annual GDP per capita growth rate has not exceeded 4 per cent.19 Along with that, each one of these African countries has a different view with regard to trade interests, social development, and institutional and socio-economic structures.20

The importance of trade in services is growing in the global economy and can create a diversified and equal growth, as well as  foster greater participation in trade and global supply chains. It can also improve Africa’s economic competitiveness, promote its growth, and increase its participation in regional and global value chains. Besides that, it can assist the EU in diversifying its supply chains and reduce dependencies on Asian countries.21

In addition to the aforementioned, the EU is considered Africa’s main trading partner, as in 2018, 31% of its exports went to all the 27 EU countries, while 29 %of its imports came from Europe. Despite that, Africa recorded in 2021 less than 3% of global trade. However, Africa’s exports to the EU have been decreasing for several years. The reason behind this is that European countries have expanded their imports of raw materials. Additionally, countries such as Turkey, India, China, and the Gulf states have extended their commodity trade with Africa. Besides low foreign direct investment, inconsistent trade arrangements, there are trade gaps and inequalities in trade regulations between the AU and EU. Another factor is how EU member-states who share historical or geographical bonds with Africa (and not all EU member countries), consider Africa to be a priority and pay attention to it.22

The EU’s approach to peace in Africa is framed within the Joint Africa-EU Strategy and shaped by growing threats posed by irregular migration into Europe and extremism. Some uncertainty also surrounds the impact of launching the European Peace Facility (EPF); including an additional budgetary fund for security which could be used outside Africa. It could also influence the way the EU is involved in peace in Africa and in relation to the legitimacy of the AU.23

Conclusion

The unequal relationship and considerable differences between the AU and the EU act as obstacles to achieving the goals of its partnership. These inequalities could be overcome by directing the AU’s efforts towards the utilization of the assets of its member countries and the enhancement of their institutional capacities. At the same time, the AU member-states should aim at strengthening trade exchange among each other to strengthen their economies. They should also agree on a common and joint vision on trade, development, and peace despite their differences when it comes to the AU-EU Partnership. All this would help bridge the gaps and enable Africa to be transformed into a position of an equal partner.  Cooperation and close ties between the AU and the EU should be promoted through mutual efforts based on shared interests and priorities to enhance and deepen an equal basis for this partnership.

Endnotes

  1. European Commission . (n.d.). Africa-EU Partnership. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu : https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/africa-eu-partnership_en
  2. Dieye, C. (2021, November 22 ). Assessing Trade Relations Between Africa and Europe. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.afripoli.org : https://afripoli.org/assessing-trade-relations-between-africa-and-europe
  3. African Union . (2022, February 18). 6th European Union – African Union Summit: A Joint Vision for 2030. Retrieved July 3, 2024, from www.au.int: https://au.int/fr/node/41509
  4. European Commission. (n.d.). Africa-EU Partnership. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu : https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/africa-eu-partnership_en
  5. The ‘Development Partners Network on Decentralisation and Local Governance’ (DeLoG). (2022, March 16). A Renewed Partnership: The AU-EU Summit and the Civil Society and Local Authorities Forums at the Africa-Europe Week. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from www.delog.org/news:https://www.delog.org/news/details/a-renewed-partnership-the-au-eu-summit-and-the-civil-society-and-local-authorities-forums-at-the-africa-europe-week
  6. European Commission. (n.d.). Africa-EU Partnership. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu : https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/africa-eu-partnership_en
  7. African Union . (2022, February 18). 6th European Union – African Union Summit: A Joint Vision for 2030. Retrieved July 3, 2024, from www.au.int: https://au.int/fr/node/41509
  8. Dessislava Choumelova, EU Ambassador to Eswatini. (2023, July 31). Actions speak louder than words – how the EU-AU partnership really works for Africa. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.eeas.europa.eu: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/eswatini/actions-speak-louder-words-%E2%80%93-how-eu-au-partnership-really-works-africa_en?s=123
  9. Dessislava Choumelova, EU Ambassador to Eswatini. (2023, July 31). Actions speak louder than words – how the EU-AU partnership really works for Africa. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.eeas.europa.eu: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/eswatini/actions-speak-louder-words-%E2%80%93-how-eu-au-partnership-really-works-africa_en?s=123
  10. Policy Center, ACET, ECDPM. (2022, February 15). Beyond Brussels and Addis Ababa: How to make the AU-EU partnership work. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from www.policycenter.ma: https://www.policycenter.ma/publications/beyond-brussels-and-addis-ababa-how-make-au-eu-partnership-work
  11. European Commission. (n.d.). Africa-EU Partnership. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu : https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/africa-eu-partnership_en
  12. Resty, N. (2021, October). The EU–AU Trade and Development Partnership Towards a new era? Policy Brief. Belgium: Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).
  13. De Fougières , M., & Labastie , C. V. (2022, February 17). EU-AU Summit: A New Approach in Africa-Europe Relations? Retrieved July 1, 2024, from www.institutmontaigne.org: https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/expressions/eu-au-summit-new-approach-africa-europe-relations
  14. Resty, N. (2021, October). The EU–AU Trade and Development Partnership Towards a new era? Policy Brief. Belgium: Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).
  15. Resty, N. (2021, October). The EU–AU Trade and Development Partnership Towards a new era? Policy Brief. Belgium: Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).
  16. Resty, N. (2022, 14 February ). EU-AU Trade and Development Partnership: Beyond the Aid Trap. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from www.kujenga-amani.ssrc.org: https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2022/02/14/eu-au-trade-and-development-partnership-beyond-the-aid-trap/
  17. Kaba , M. (2022, February 15). What a True Partnership of Equals Would Mean for the European Union and African Union. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from www.cgdev.org: https://www.cgdev.org/blog/what-true-partnership-equals-would-mean-european-union-and-african-union
  18. Resty, N. (2021, October). The EU–AU Trade and Development Partnership Towards a new era? Policy Brief. Belgium: Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).
  19. Lewis, D. ( 2023, March 15 ). An African EU? The opportunities and challenges of a continental trade bloc. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.diligenciagroup.com:https://www.diligenciagroup.com/blogs/an-african-eu-the-opportunities-and-challenges-of-a-continental-trade-bloc
  20. Resty, N. (2021, October). The EU–AU Trade and Development Partnership Towards a new era? Policy Brief. Belgium: Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).
  21. Lejarraga, I. (2023, March 9 ). Tricks of the trade: Strengthening EU-African cooperation on trade in services. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from www.ecfr.eu: https://ecfr.eu/publication/tricks-of-the-trade-strengthening-eu-african-cooperation-on-trade-in-services/
  22. De Fougières , M., & Labastie , C. V. (2022, February 17). EU-AU Summit: A New Approach in Africa-Europe Relations? Retrieved July 1, 2024, from www.institutmontaigne.org: https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/expressions/eu-au-summit-new-approach-africa-europe-relations
  23. VENTURI, B. (2021, October). AU–EU RELATIONS ON PEACE AND SECURITY. Policy Brief. Belgium: The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS). Retrieved July 3, 2024, from https://feps-europe.eu/wp-content/uploads/downloads/publications/211103%20policy%20brief%20au-eu%20relations%20peace%20and%20security.pdf: https://feps-europe.eu/wp-content/uploads/downloads/publications/211103%20policy%20brief%20au-eu%20relations%20peace%20and%20security.pdf
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