How to Build a Sustainable Strategic Partnership (EU-Africa Relations in the Spotlight) 11 March 2021

SociresOn Thursday 11 March 2021, in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a Webinar organised a Webinar to discuss EU relations with Africa and the future of the partnership with the President of Ghana,Nana Akufo-AddoAs a keynote speaker. Close relations between the EU and African States are of paramount importance to both continents and were not by chance one of the priorities of the German Presidency of the Council at the end of 2020. Even though a planned EU-AU summit had to be postponed due to the COOVID-19 pandemic, Angela Merkel and many of her EU colleagues stated that cooperation is crucial in various areas, from migration to climate change to sustainable economic growth and prosperity. The entry into force of theAfrican Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) will create strategic opportunities for African and European actors to meet on an equal footing. In order to achieve an eye-to-eye partnership and to meet the challenges that remain equally important on both sides of the Mediterranean, the perspective of the African States or the African Union as a whole should be taken into account in the dialogues to achieve sustainable strategic cooperation. This conference was the first of many to discuss how an equal partnership, driven by shared interests between the EU and Africa, can be promoted and how the AfCFTA can catalyze a true reciprocity-based relationship. Panel membersMichael Gahler, MEP,Kitty van der Heijden, Director-General for International Cooperation; andProfessor Christine WieckMember of the Rural Africa Task Force gave their views on EU-Africa relations during the panel discussion.

You can read the full report on the foodFIRST website:http://www.foodfirst.eu/2021/03/11/how-to-build-a-sustainable-strategic-partnership-eu-affrica-relations-in-the-spotlight/