The EU is the leading supplier of foreign direct investment to Africa and its leading trade partner (EDUARDO SOTERAS)
European and African leaders gathered in Angola Monday for a summit to deepen economic and security ties that also presented the chance for emergency talks on Ukraine.
European Union chief Antonio Costa chaired an impromptu EU summit at a Luanda hotel in the morning, as Europe and Kyiv push to review a US proposal to end the Ukraine war seen as heavily favouring Moscow.
“While work remains to be done, there is now a solid basis for moving forward,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the meeting, which followed Sunday talks between US, Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva.
EU leaders including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Poland’s Donald Tusk then headed to a conference centre near the waterfront of the Angolan capital for a summit with their African counterparts.
South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo were among a stream of heads of state and government welcomed by host Joao Lourenco of Angola.
“The Europe-Africa axis must increasingly become the central axis of the international community,” said UN chief Antonio Guterres.
Addressing the gathering, which came on the heels of a G20 meeting in South Africa where a US boycott underscored geopolitical fractures, Lourenco decried “deteriorating” global security, citing conflicts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
“It is urgent that multilateralism be rescued,” he said.
– ‘Implementable commitments’ –
The summit marks 25 years of EU-African Union relations — ties that analysts say need revamping if Europe wants to hold on to its role as the continent’s top partner.
“Our prosperity is more connected than ever. We both need to build the industries of tomorrow. We both need to make the most of our talent and resources and get rid of dangerous dependencies,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in opening remarks.
Africa has emerged as a battleground for its critical minerals and energy potential, with China, the United States and Russia also seeking to foster stronger ties.
The EU is the leading supplier of foreign direct investment to the continent and its top commercial counterpart. Trade in goods and services hit 467 billion euros ($538 billion) in 2023, according to Brussels.
The Gulf states and Turkey have also made significant inroads, granting African nations bargaining power with the EU, said Geert Laporte of ECDPM, a European think tank.
“We don’t have that situation anymore where Europe was the only partner,” he said.