EU-Africa relations

Promoting peace and prosperity

In an era of geopolitical volatility, the European Union and the African Union partnership stands as a pillar of stability and shared values. The European Union-African Union relations advance a peaceful, prosperous future grounded in rules-based international cooperation.

In 2025, the European Union and African Union celebrate 25 years of partnership. Over the past quarter century, the EU–AU partnership has evolved into a comprehensive political, economic and security alliance.

The partnership is a strategic priority for the EU. The EU is Africa’s leading trading partner, largest investor, and main peace and security partner, supporting regional stability and inclusive growth.

With a population of over 1.4 billion people, Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and the largest youth population.

European Union-African Union summits

EU-AU summits take place in principle every three years and bring together heads of state or government to tackle common challenges and set shared goals. The summits are held alternately in Africa and Europe.

At the seventh EU-AU summit in November 2025, leaders of the European Union and the African Union member states discussed how to strengthen cooperation:

towards a prosperous and sustainable future

in the areas of peace, security and governance

in multilateral fora

as regards migration and mobility

European Union-African Union summit, 24-25 November 2025

Other formal meetings between African countries and the EU

The EU-Africa partnership is also developed through formal dialogues:

ministerial meetings, held regularly, between foreign affairs ministers of African and EU countries and representatives of the African Union Commission and EU institutions
annual meetings between the European Commission and the African Union Commission
regular meetings between the European Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament

Areas of EU-Africa cooperation

Trade and investment

The EU has negotiated preferential trade agreements with 19 African countries, namely:

six economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa
four association agreements (AAs) with countries in North Africa

In addition, 35 African countries benefit from the EU’s ‘everything but arms’ arrangement, three from the standard Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and one from GSP+.

A collage of green and blue geometric patterns with stars, rays, and rectangles that overlap, representing the EU and the AU flags. The collage also features containers to symbolise trade relations.

EU-Africa trade: facts and figures

Global Gateway

Africa is at the heart of Global Gateway, the EU’s strategy to build sustainable, high-standard connections that benefit people and the planet.

Of the 264 Global Gateway flagship projects, 138 are in Africa.

The Africa–Europe Investment Package, launched under Global Gateway, will mobilise up to €150 billion in public and private investments to boost sustainable growth across the continent.

Global Gateway

Peace and security

Civilian and military missions and operations

The EU has launched several civilian and military missions and operations in Africa as part of the common security and defence policy (CSDP).

EU missions are currently deployed in:

the Central African Republic
Libya
Mali
Mozambique
Somalia

The EU has also launched a regional advisory and coordination cell for the Sahel, a security and defence initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea, as well as three naval operations that operate close to Africa or in relation to crises taking place in Africa.

Civilian and military missions and operations

European Peace Facility

The EU also supports African countries through the European Peace Facility (EPF), established in March 2021. The facility aims to help prevent conflict, build and preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability.

The EPF consists of two financing pillars: an operations pillar and an assistance measures pillar. The operations pillar finances the common costs of CSDP missions and operations.

The assistance measures pillar finances action by non-EU countries and organisations aiming to strengthen military and defence capacities and supporting military aspects of peace support operations. The Council has adopted assistance measures for a number of African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Somalia.

European Peace Facility

Counter-terrorism

The EU supports counter-terrorism initiatives and activities on the African continent.

On 16 December 2024, the Council approved conclusions aiming to enhance efforts to address terrorism and violent extremism, calling for increased EU engagement with African-led counter-terrorism initiatives. The Council also underlined the importance of using the EU’s membership and current position as co-chair of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) to support African countries to fight terrorism and violent extremism.

The EU has co-chaired the GCTF since September 2022, first with Morocco and since March 2023 with Egypt. The GCTF is an informal multilateral platform to strengthen international efforts in a strategic, long-term approach to counter-terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism.

The EU is one of the world’s biggest providers of counter-terrorism capacity building programmes and other programmes aiming to prevent violent extremism in Africa. By January 2024, approximately €559 million had been invested in these programmes, with more than 70% of funds going to projects in African countries.

In addition, EU counter-terrorism/security experts deployed in several EU delegations on the African continent play a crucial role in liaising with host governments, regional organisations and civil society.

A mine-free Africa

Anti-personnel landmines continue to pose a serious threat to civilians and hamper development in many parts of the world, including Africa. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (known as the Ottawa Convention), which entered into effect in March 1999, constitutes the international framework for ending the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines.

As of 2026, 161 states are party to the convention, including most countries in Africa. However, several African states still have obligations under Article 5 of the convention to clear mined areas under their jurisdiction.

The EU has long been a strong supporter of global efforts to eliminate anti-personnel landmines and address their humanitarian consequences. The EU is among the leading global donors in the field of mine action.

On 16 March 2026, the Council adopted a decision in support of building African capacities towards a mine-free continent. Thanks to that decision, the EU will support African countries affected by anti-personnel landmines through a project worth €3 million, implemented by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).

Climate and environment

While African countries are among those hit hardest by the climate crisis, they are also key actors in providing sustainable solutions.

The geographical proximity and extensive economic ties between the EU and Africa provide solid foundations for working together on addressing the climate crisis and promoting the green transition.

Cooperation on climate action takes various forms, including:

the Global Gateway investment package, boosting initiatives for sustainable and green infrastructure in African countries
bilateral and multilateral partnerships on issues such as forestation, green hydrogen, decarbonisation and climate resilience

Migration

The European Council conclusions adopted in recent years on the external dimension of migration serve as guidelines for EU institutions, bodies and member states in this area.

One crucial element is the comprehensive approach to migration and asylum, which focuses on several key areas, including:

the protection of vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers and refugees
legal migration and labour mobility
addressing the root causes of irregular migration
combatting the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings

It also includes the strengthening of partner countries’ border management capacities, in addition to the return of irregularly staying migrants from the EU to their countries of origin, as well as support for voluntary returns and the sustainable reintegration of returnees in their countries of origin.

EU emergency trust fund for Africa

The EU set up the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF for Africa) in November 2015 to address the root causes of forced displacement and irregular migration and to contribute to better migration management. Its mandate expired in 2021 but projects ran until the end of 2025.

EUTF for Africa had a budget of €5 billion and was implemented by multiple actors, ranging from EU member states' agencies to UN agencies and other international organisations, as well as local NGOs.

EU emergency trust fund for Africa (European Commission)

EU Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument

On 14 June 2021 the EU Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-GE) was adopted with a budget of €79.5 billion, of which 10% is allocated to migration-related actions for the period 2021-2027.

Global Europe covers more than 70% of the EU’s external relations funding. It is based on three pillars: geographic programmes, thematic programmes and rapid response actions.

Regional strategies

Horn of Africa

In 2021, the Council approved conclusions establishing a new strategy for the Horn of Africa. The new strategy focuses on deepening the strategic partnership, reducing instability and promoting democracy and sustainable growth.

In previous years, the EU adopted the:

Horn of Africa regional action plan (2015-2020)
strategic framework for the Horn of Africa (2011)

The EU has a special representative (EUSR) for the Horn of Africa.

Great Lakes

In February 2023, the Council approved conclusions setting out the renewed long-term EU engagement in the Great Lakes region.

The EU’s overarching objective and priority is to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development in the Great Lakes region by helping to transform the main root causes of insecurity and instability into shared opportunities. The EU offers to support the countries in the region in their efforts to move from:

tensions to trust, security and stability
trafficking of natural resources to trade and sustainable development
competition to cooperation and integration

The EU has a special representative (EUSR) for the Great Lakes region.

Sahel

In April 2021, the Council approved conclusions on the EU's integrated strategy in the Sahel region. The new strategy aims to step up the solid and long-term partnership and sets the framework for policies and action in the region.

Given the growing insecurity and political instability in the region, work is ongoing to develop a new EU approach.

The EU has a special representative (EUSR) for the Sahel region.

Samoa agreement

The Samoa agreement is the overarching legal framework for relations between the EU and its member states and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), i.e. 77 countries, including 47 African countries.

The agreement aims to strengthen political cooperation through shared priorities and goals over a 20-year period. It includes a common foundation at OACPS level, combined with three regional protocols for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific which focus on the regions’ specific needs.

African, Caribbean and Pacific countries