On renewing the EU-Africa partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit

B100476/2025

European Parliament resolution on renewing the EU-Africa partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit

(2025/2933(RSP))

– having regard to Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on a new EU-Africa Strategy – a partnership for sustainable and inclusive development,

– having regard to the Africa-EU partnership formally established in 2000 at the first Africa-EU Summit in Cairo,

– having regard to the Joint Africa-EU Strategy adopted in Lisbon on 9 December 2007,

– having regard to the AU’s Agenda 2063 adopted on 31 January 2015 at the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union held in Addis Ababa,

– having regard to the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development,

– having regard to the new European Consensus on Development entitled ‘Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future’, signed on 7 June 2017,

– having regard to the conclusions of the fifth African Union-EU Summit held in Abidjan on 29 and 30 November 2017,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 12 September 2018 entitled ‘Communication on a new Africa – Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs: Taking our partnership for investment and jobs to the next level’ (COM(2018)0643),

– having regard to the EU’s support to African countries through the European Peace Facility (EPF), established in March 2021,

– having regard to the latest EU-AU Summit held in Brussels in February 2022, at which EU and AU leaders agreed on a joint vision for a renewed partnership,

– having regard to the outcome of the recent EU-AU Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels in May 2025, at which ministers reaffirmed their commitment to closer ties between the two continents,

– having regard to the fact that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the EU-AU partnership,

– having regard to the joint EU-AU common ambition envisaged in the Global Gateway investment package for 2030,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the African Union (AU) is a continental body whose membership comprises the countries of the African continent and which was officially launched in 2002 as successor to the Organisation of African Unity;

B. whereas the EU and the AU are long-standing partners committed to a shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity on both continents;

C. whereas the forthcoming EU-Africa Summit in Angola in 2025 provides an opportunity to renew the strategic partnership and redefine common priorities based on mutual interests and shared responsibility;

D. whereas the geopolitical landscape has evolved significantly since the last EU-Africa Summit, with growing security challenges, regional instability and external interference affecting both continents;

E. whereas cooperation between the EU and African partners must be based on equality, mutual respect and recognition of national sovereignty, avoiding paternalistic or conditional approaches;

F. whereas Africa is a key partner for Europe in addressing global challenges such as migration, counterterrorism, climate change, food security and energy transition;

G. whereas the Mattei Plan, promoted by the Italian Government, offers a pragmatic model of cooperation based on concrete projects, investment, training and infrastructure, in full synergy with the EU’s Global Gateway, aiming to foster stability, development and security in African partner countries;

H. whereas sustainable development and private sector-driven growth are essential to creating opportunities for young people in Africa and reducing incentives for irregular migration;

I. whereas improving governance, transparency and the rule of law remains crucial for ensuring the effective use of public resources and foreign investment;

J. whereas the EU should promote strategic investment in infrastructure, education and digital transformation in Africa while encouraging fair trade and reducing dependency on external powers that do not share democratic values;

K. whereas enhanced cooperation on security and defence, including support for African-led initiatives, is essential to stabilise regions affected by terrorism and conflict;

L. whereas migration management must balance solidarity with responsibility, focusing on tackling root causes, improving border control and promoting legal pathways in line with each Member State’s capacity;

M. whereas the Angola Summit should reaffirm a partnership of equals that strengthens resilience, supports democratic institutions and contributes to long-term stability and prosperity on both continents;

1. Reaffirms the importance of a strong and balanced partnership between the EU and African nations, founded on mutual respect, shared interests and the principle of equality among sovereign partners;

2. Calls for the Angola Summit in 2025 to mark a new phase of EU-Africa relations, focusing on practical cooperation that delivers tangible results for citizens on both continents;

3. Stresses that the renewed partnership should prioritise peace, security and stability as the foundation for sustainable development and prosperity;

4. Highlights the strategic importance of the Global Gateway as a key instrument to promote sustainable infrastructure, digital connectivity and resilient supply chains, and calls for its implementation to be guided by transparency, reciprocity and a strong focus on mutually beneficial bilateral partnerships;

5. Stresses that the Global Gateway should complement, not replace, national and regional initiatives, and calls for closer coordination between EU institutions, Member States and African partners to ensure that investments respond to real local needs and deliver measurable results;

6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure full synergy between the Global Gateway and national initiatives such as the Mattei Plan, so as to promote a coherent European approach in Africa focused on stability, development and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean;

7. Emphasises the need to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism, organised crime and human trafficking, while supporting African-led security initiatives;

8. Urges the Commission and Member States to promote investment and job creation through private-sector development, entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly for young people and women;

9. Calls for enhanced cooperation on energy and infrastructure projects that support economic growth, interconnectivity and access to reliable and affordable energy sources;

10. Underlines that migration management must be based on responsibility, partnership and mutual benefit, tackling root causes and improving border control while respecting Member States’ competences;

11. Encourages the EU to support governance reforms, transparency and accountability in African partner countries as essential preconditions for the effective use of development funds;

12. Highlights the importance of fair trade and market access, reducing regulatory barriers and promoting economic integration that benefits both European and African enterprises;

13. Warns against increasing influence from external actors that do not share democratic or rule-of-law principles, and calls for stronger EU engagement to promote stability and strategic autonomy;

14. Calls on the Commission to actively engage with and strengthen the role of religious entities, including church organisations, in the planning, implementation and evaluation of humanitarian, development and peace programmes in Africa; stresses that their deep roots in local communities, extensive networks and significant human and material resources constitute invaluable assets that should be systematically drawn upon;

15. Calls for educational, cultural and scientific cooperation to be deepened, enhancing people-to-people contacts and fostering mutual understanding between the two continents;

16. Invites the Commission, the European External Action Service and the Member States to prepare clear deliverables and measurable objectives ahead of the Angola Summit;

17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service, the African Union, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of African partner countries.