The 5th Africa-EU Summit is scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on November 28-29, 2017 and will focus on “Youth”.
The central theme for the Summit will be “Youth”, which has become a key priority for Europe as well as Africa, in a context of African demographic trends creating major challenges for young people in terms of migration, security and employment.
On May 4, 2017, the European Commission and the EEAS issued a Joint Communication that sets out the vision and strategic interests of the EU in a reinforced partnership with Africa:
‘2017 is a defining year for the partnership between Europe and Africa. In a rapidly changing global landscape, Africa is experiencing profound economic, political and societal changes, and its importance to the internal and external dimensions of Europe’s security and prosperity is becoming ever more obvious. Europe and Africa have much to gain from increased political and economic ties, but also a lot to lose if they fail to act.’
Context
The international context and EU-Africa relations are constantly evolving, presenting new challenges and opportunities. Since the historic first Africa-EU Summit in Cairo in 2000, where the Africa-EU partnership framework was established, considerable change has taken place on both continents, which challenge the way Africa and Europe perceive each other.
The Africa-EU Partnership is adapting to these changing realities through constant formal dialogue between African and European counterparts at different levels, including the EU-Africa Summits. These Summits of Heads of States and Governments take place every three years alternatively in Africa and Europe. These Summits take stock of the progress made in the implementation of commitments made and provide political guidance for further work.
For more information, please visit the Africa-EU Summit website.
“Youth Plug-In Initiative”
On November 29-30, African and European Heads of State will meet in Abidjan for the 5th AU-EU Summit to discuss the priorities for the partnership between the two continents for the years to come. The overarching theme will be “Investing in Youth” and ensuring an active and meaningful inclusion of young people in the run-up and at the Summit is a given.
African and European youth today have many challenges in common such as limited access to resources, education, and employment, along with social discrimination, lack of participation in decision-making and conflict resolution. By bringing together African and European Youth organisations and motivated and engaged young people, the 4th Africa-Europe Youth Summit and the EU-AU Youth Plug-In Initiative will strengthen the direct participation in a the political process affecting the livelihoods and future prospects of youth on both continents.
The 4th Africa-Europe Youth Summit will gather 115 youth leaders from both continents, including African Diaspora, on 9-11 October in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to agree on a declaration with recommendations and messages on 6 themes including education, peace & security, climate & environment, business & job creation, political inclusion and culture.
A follow-up group of 36 youth selected for the EU-AU Youth Plug-In initiative will continue the work between October 27 and November 29. The group will be embedded in the AU and the EU as two Euro-African groups in both Addis and Brussels, to develop further ideas and proposal relating to the 6 themes for solutions, actions and initiatives.
The work of the Youth Summit and the Plug-In Initiative will be presented to the Heads of State at the 5th AU-EU Summit on November 29-30 in Abidjan.
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