EU cooperation with African countries and the African Union (AU) is based on two distinct frameworks: namely (a) the Joint Africa-EU strategy and (b) the Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states.The legal basis for the political, economic and development aspects of the partnership between the EU and the ACP states was established by the Cotonou Agreement in 2000. This was replaced, on 15 November 2023, by the Samoa Agreement, which was negotiated to modernise and upgrade the partnership.The Joint Africa-EU strategy has been implemented through multiannual roadmaps and action plans adopted at each EU-AU summit, which traditionally takes place every three years. At the EU-AU summit held in February 2022 in Brussels, EU and AU leaders agreed on ‘A Joint Vision for 2030’, which aims to consolidate a renewed partnership based on solidarity, security, peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity. The third EU-AU ministerial meeting took place on 21 May 2025, with the participation of the new AU leadership. This meeting reviewed progress on the Joint Vision for 2030, and paved the way for the seventh EU-AU summit, which took place in Luanda, Angola from 24 to 25 November 2025, marking 25 years of the partnership since the Cairo summit in 2000. The EU Political and Security Committee and the AU Peace and Security Council held their 16th consultative meeting in Brussels from 8 to 9 October 2025.The EU is Africa’s most significant donor of official development assistance. This is mainly funded by the EU’s general budget through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP Read more