The Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) met under the Co-Chairpersonship of H.E. Charles Michel, President of the European Council and H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and AU Chairperson. The summit convened in Brussels from 17 and 18 February. Aware of unprecedented and mounting common challenges and opportunities, the leaders of both organisations committed to a joint vision for a renewed partnership to build a common future, as close partners. The joint vision addresses both the immediate opportunities and challenges, as well as the long-term possibilities offered by the AU-EU partnership. Both organisations agreed to ensure a fair and equitable access to vaccines and committed to engage constructively towards an agreement on a comprehensive World Trade Organization (WTO) response to the pandemic, which includes trade, as well as intellectual property-related aspects. The Joint Vision document further announced an Africa-Europe Investment Package of at least EUR 150 billion that will support common ambitions for the 2030 Agenda and AU Agenda 2063, composed of an Investment, a Health and an Education Package.

The two organisations further agreed on a renewed and enhanced cooperation for peace and security; and expressed their commitment to foster cooperation through support for adequate training, capacity building and equipment to strengthen and scale up autonomous peace operations of African defence and security forces, including through EU missions and assistance measures, as well as support for law enforcement capacity building. They also recommitted to their joint support to African-led Peace Support Operations and the on-going discussions on the use of UN-assessed contributions for operations authorised by the UN Security Council, and the implementation of the AU Human Rights Compliance Framework. The Joint Vision further underscored the AU and EU’s enhanced and reciprocal partnership for migration and mobility, and a strong commitment to multilateralism.

The Summit was hosted in a hybrid format in Brussels and virtually. This forum’s objective was to strengthen cross-continent people-to-people relations through providing a space for youth, civil society, cultural actors and the private sector to discuss the aspects of the Africa-Europe partnerships that matter most to them. The Africa-Europe Week and the EU-Africa Business Forum (EABF) concluded with the delivery of four documents from youth delegates, Civil Society Organisations, local authorities and the EABF. These joint outcomes documents capture the views of participants which were presented to leaders during the EU-AU Summit.