External publications

African-European relations

Erforth, Benedikt / Niels Keijzer
External Publications (2024)

in: Seidu M. Alidu / Benedikt Kamski / Andreas Mehler / David Sebudubudu (eds.), Africa Yearbook Volume 20: politics, economy and society South of the Sahara in 2023, Leiden: Brill, 29-39

ISBN: 978-90-04-69697-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004696976_003
Information

The relationships among the EU, the AU, and their respective member states evolved in an increasingly turbulent global context. Cooperation in areas including trade and investment continued and even deepened through new international agreements, yet diplomatically the relationships went through difficult times. Views on Ukraine and Gaza often diverged significantly. The ongoing destabilisation in the Sahel region, coupled with diminishing European – especially French – influence and engagement, further underscored these differences. The consequence was that high-level dialogue at the AU–EU level was more or less paused during 2023, but the adoption of new Africa strategies by several European countries indicated both a willingness and a potential to deepen relations.