The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) deepen ties with a €20 million capacity building agreement
The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) have signed the EU-African Union Partnership Acceleration Programme (AUPPAP), a financing agreement aimed at promoting integrated development and capacity-building in Africa, which complements existing support provided by the EU and its member states under the AU-EU partners that celebrate 25 years this year.
The plan is Agenda 2063the strategic framework of the African Union, for socio-economic transformation on the African continent, and EU’s Joint Vision for 2030aims to promote a prosperous, sustainable and mutually beneficial future in Africa and Europe.
AUPPAP focuses on accelerating the implementation of key development projects and strengthening institutional capacity to address shared challenges such as economic growth, digital, connectivity and energy.
The €20 million plan will be implemented within two years and focus on the mutually agreed results within the 2063 AU Agenda, its flagship program and the framework of the joint AU-EU partnership. The initiative highlights the EU and EU’s commitment to deepening their partnership and working together in sustainable development, inclusive growth and resilience in Africa, while also strengthening links between the two regions.
The signing was conducted in the margins of the “EU-Africa: Information Conference of EU Member States”: Africa Global Portal Investment Package”, an event that demonstrates Africa’s investment in digital, energy, transportation, health, education and research, and provides information on future opportunities offered by the EU’s global portal.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Fathallah Sijilmassi, Director-General of AUC, said: “This partnership strengthens our cooperation and will contribute to Africa’s integration and sustainable development as envisioned by the mission and vision of the African Union.” The cooperation will directly benefit from the AUC, other AU organs and institutions, AU member states and African citizens.
Ambassador Sijilmassi appreciates the continued support of the EU that has been extending to the African Union over the years. He further noted: “Cooperation under AUPPAP will help consolidate the institutional transformation of the African Union Commission and other AU organs. AU and the EU Its long-term partnership must continue to strengthen, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025 to address global challenges and transform our two continents. ”
In his opening remarks, the EU Ambassador to the African Union Javier Niño Pérez said: “Africa is a major political priority for the EU. Our unique partnership focuses on solidarity, peace and security, sustainable development, and the prosperity of rules-based international order and multilateralism. So far, the EU is the EU’s largest international partner, and through this program we will not only work with the AUC, but also work with different AU organs such as Auda-Nepad and Afcfta and Afcfta to implement the AU’s capabilities. The European Union Global Portal Investment Package.”
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The just signed European Union-African Union Partnership Acceleration Programme (AUPPAP) will consist of three main components:
•Improving organizational performance and effectiveness of AU processes.
• Strengthen policy frameworks related to key AU-eu partnership priorities, especially in the areas of economic integration, energy and digital.
• Improve the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for AU policies and programs, as well as the AU’s Au-Eu-Eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eu-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-e-eu-phorighos.
The initiative is consistent with the AU’s continental development blueprint, the 2063 Agenda, which outlines the vision of inclusive and sustainable development across the continent. The implementation of these actions will help fulfill the commitment of the shared vision reached by African and European leaders during the 6th AU-eu Summit in 2022. The partnership begins institutionally and starts with that partnership. The first African European Union Summit held in Cairo, Egypt in 200025 years ago.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of the African Union (AU).
