November, 2025
As leaders prepare to convene in Luanda for the 7th AU-EU Summit, marking the 25th anniversary of the partnership, the relationship stands at a pivotal, yet increasingly complex juncture.
This Policy Brief, “From Cairo to Luanda: A 25-Year Parliamentary Stocktake of AU-EU Relations“ authored by Iliana Olivié, Daniele Fattibene, Jeggan Grey Johnson (OSF), and Ibrahima Kane (OSF). provides key findings and strategic recommendations derived from a high-level inter-parliamentary session held at the Pan-African Parliament.
The analysis argues that the partnership must move beyond historical patterns and symbolic gatherings toward a genuine, equitable relationship. It assesses persistent challenges and opportunities in four key areas:
- Geopolitical shifts and the need for a ‘partnership of equals’.
- Reframing peace and security cooperation around equity and conflict prevention.
- Ensuring the Global Gateway moves from extraction to genuine local prosperity, especially regarding Critical Raw Materials (CRMs).
- Addressing human capital, mobility, and the debt crisis as interconnected priorities.
The brief emphasizes the crucial role of the Pan-African Parliament and the European Parliament in providing oversight and ensuring high-level commitments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
This publication is the result of a partnership with the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and stems from an event co-organized by ETTG, OSF, the Pan-African Parliament, the European Parliament, and the Centre for Human Rights.
Other contributors: Dr. Theophilus Acheampong, Dr. Julian Bergmann, Dr. Deprose Muchena, Dr. Benedikt Erforth, Elisabeth Hege, Dr. Ibrahima Kane, Claire Kumar, and Sakhile Phiri.
Cite as: Olivié, I., Fattibene, D., Johnson, J. G., Kane, I., Acheampong, T., Bergmann, J., Erforth, B., Hege, E., Kabemba, C., Muchena, D., & Phiri, S. (2025). From Cairo to Luanda: Parliamentary Reflections on 25 Years of AU-EU Relations (ETTG Policy Brief 9/2025). European Think Tanks Group.
