Photo. Envato elements / @wirestock
On 24–25 November, Angola’s capital Luanda hosted the long-anticipated gathering of leaders from the European Union and the African Union. The previous summit had taken place in Brussels in February 2022, just days before Russia’s assault on Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, that very conflict once again loomed large over the proceedings: EU leaders devoted considerable time to internal deliberations on the „28-point peace plan”. Nevertheless, the summit went ahead, and while it would be difficult to call it groundbreaking, the discussions can be regarded as broadly successful. No major breakthrough materialized, nor had anyone seriously expected one.
The Summit’s guiding motto, „Promoting Peace and Prosperity through Effective Multilateralism,” served as a deft reference not only to the multilateral nature of both the EU and AU but also as a broader affirmation of multilateralism as a tool for resolving conflicts – a subtle counterpoint to the increasingly audible „concert of great powers” shaping global politics. To reinforce this message, the AU-EU Civil Society & Youth Forum was held on the sidelines, featuring representatives from more than a hundred civic and youth organizations. A joint declaration by the European Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament, adopted days earlier in Midrand, South Africa, also aimed to underscore this shared commitment. Still, it is worth noting that the EU and AU are far from institutional equivalents: the EU’s bodies are considerably more empowered and dynamic, while the AU remains a much looser structure.
The summit’s agenda was ambitious, covering a wide spectrum of political, economic and social issues. Economic matters, however, took center stage – a sign of the seriousness with which both sides approached the talks. Topics ranged from easing trade barriers and improving connectivity to cooperation in extractive industries. The discussions also devoted substantial attention to the energy transition and climate change. Europe’s interest in securing access to critical raw materials was addressed in a way that appeared satisfactory to both sides. For African partners, it was equally important that the agenda included mobility (i.e., migration) and renewed European pledges to support development initiatives and energy transition projects.
Whether these commitments will translate into meaningful follow-up remains an open question. Over the past decades, numerous declarations echoing those heard in Luanda have failed to spark genuine cooperation. In that sense, the summit resembled the six preceding EU-AU gatherings: grand statements whose long-term impact remains uncertain. Yet there is reason to believe that this time may be different. The fast-shifting international landscape and the rising influence of the Global South could prompt Europe and Africa to find common ground on a wider range of issues than before.
Despite the presence of dozens of European and African leaders, media coverage remained muted. This was due not only to the summit’s relatively modest political temperature but also to the overshadowing effect of global events – namely, the United States« proposed 28-point peace plan. On 24 November, EU leaders convened in Luanda specifically to discuss the proposal. For various reasons, the timing and location were far from ideal, yet the meeting was unavoidable. Afterward, President of the European Council António Costa released a brief statement noting that „some issues remain to be resolved, but the direction is positive,” concluding with the pledge: „Ukraine has chosen Europe, and Europe will stand by Ukraine.”
The war in Ukraine – and the broader imperative of ensuring a „lasting peace” – also appeared in the summit’s final communiqué, alongside references to conflicts in „the occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Sahel, \[and\] Somalia.” This list neatly illustrates how African nations, both those sympathetic to Moscow and those adopting varying degrees of neutrality, perceive the Russia-Ukraine war. For them, it is one conflict among many, and not necessarily the most urgent. One of the summit’s quieter accomplishments was therefore its reminder to some European policymakers that the Global South views the world through a markedly different lens. Cooperation is possible, but only if this perspective is acknowledged – not dismissed as hostile but understood as distinct. Including this full roster of crises in the joint communiqué served as another affirmation of multilateralism and of the potential for closer alignment between Europe and Africa.
Though barely noticed by the media, the Luanda summit was, in the end, a modest success. It was not expected to change the course of history, yet it likely marked another incremental step toward deeper EU-AU engagement – or more precisely, closer cooperation among the member states of both organizations. With global trends shifting rapidly, the moment may soon come when the two neighboring continents find themselves compelled, by circumstance or opportunity, to tighten their many forms of cooperation.