The African Union and European Union high-level meeting has commenced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the African Union headquarters. The meeting brings together senior officials from both continents to discuss areas of cooperation and pressing global issues. This gathering aims to strengthen partnerships and address shared concerns on peace, security, economic development, and climate change. The talks are expected to yield concrete actions to enhance collaboration between the two blocs.
The meeting is built on the outcomes of the 7th African-European Union Summit held in Luanda in November 2025. The Luanda summit focused on promoting peace and prosperity through effective multilateral cooperation. Building on these discussions, today's meeting seeks to translate commitments into tangible actions. Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, is also set to present Africa's common position on artificial intelligence and digital health.
Ambassador Llemlem Fessaha, champion of the African Union on artificial intelligence and digital health, outlined key priorities for the continent. These include integrating AI and digitalization into national policy frameworks, ensuring universal digital literacy, and investing in cybersecurity infrastructure. Fostering an enabling environment for digital startups and promoting African languages in the digital sphere are also high on the agenda.
The meeting will focus on enhancing cooperation in areas such as peace and security, multilateralism, trade, and economic development. Participants will also discuss climate change, food security, and the development and governance of artificial intelligence. A joint action plan is expected to be adopted, which will outline concrete steps to deepen cooperation between Africa and Europe.
Ethiopia's Ambassador to the African Union, Lemsalem Meseret, represented the country at the meeting. She emphasized the need for the European Union to provide meaningful support for African countries' development aspirations. This includes increasing investments in key sectors and addressing trade imbalances.
Ambassador Meseret also called on the European Union to reconsider certain policies that have negatively impacted African producers. Specifically, she mentioned the need to address restrictions on coffee, cocoa, and other strategic products. These policies have resulted in significant losses for African countries.
The high-level meeting between the African and European Union is a critical platform for advancing cooperation and addressing shared global challenges. The discussions are expected to yield concrete outcomes that will strengthen partnerships between the two continents and promote peace, security, and prosperity.
Key points
- The meeting aims to strengthen partnerships between Africa and Europe on key issues such as peace, security, and economic development.
