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Information about the Delegation of the European Union to African Union.

The role of the EU Delegation

The role of the EU Delegation to the African Union

Symbolising the strategic and continuously growing partnership between the African Union and the European Union, the EU is one of the few diplomatic entities to have a dedicated mission to the AU in Addis Ababa since 2008. The overall purpose of the EU Delegation to the AU is to contribute to enhancing the unique and diverse Partnership that exists between both Unions. Over 50 staff operate in an environment that includes the AU Commission, 55 AU Member States, other regional and pan-African organisations. The EU Delegation is also accredited to the UN Economic Organisation for Africa. Also, 21 EU Member States are represented in Addis Ababa and accredited to the AU and UNECA.

The Delegation deals with a wide range of topics, including both dialogue on political issues of mutual concern and interest with AU and broader interlocutors on the continent, as well as longer-term cooperation and institution building.

The Joint Africa-EU Strategy

The origins of the EU-AU strategic partnership date back from 2007 and have been updated on a regular basis since. The Joint Africa-EU Strategy, adopted at the Lisbon Summit in 2007, constitutes the overarching long-term framework for Africa-EU relations. EU-Africa Summits in Tripoli (2010), Brussels (2014) and Abidjan (2017) refined the Partnership's Strategy, taking into consideration changes and emerging priorities on both continents.

More recently, in February 2022, Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the African Union and the European Union together with leadership of EU and AU Institutions met for the sixth European Union - African Union summit in Brussels and adopted A Joint Vision 2030.

Two Unions, a joint vision

The Joint Vision for 2030 projects a common future, as closest partners and neighbours and defines a renewed Partnership for solidarity, security, peace and sustainable development and prosperity; for current and future generations, bringing together our people, regions and organisations.

The Global Gateway (European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world) Investment Package symbolises this partnership. Through a 'Team Europe approach', Global Gateway will bring together the EU, its Member States and their financial and development institutions to mobilise the private sector to leverage investments for a transformational impact. Please visit the dedicated Global Gateway page for more information.

The Joint Vision promotes common priorities, shared values, and international law, and preserve interests and common public goods. This includes the protection of human rights for all, gender equality and women's empowerment in all spheres of life, the rule of law, actions to preserve the climate, environment and biodiversity, but also sustainable and inclusive economic growth and the fight against inequalities.

European Union and African Union leaders and Member States also reiterated their commitment to multilateralism. The EU and the AU will work together to promote effective multilateralism within the rules-based international order, with the UN at its core.

While HoSG set the strategic orientation for the partnership between our two Unions, multiple dialogues and cooperation activities define its implementation. This occurs for instance in the framework of diverse forums, such as regular EU-AU Ministerial meetings (3^rd Meeting: 20 November 2023), sectoral ministerial and senior official meetings, specific dialogues on peace and security (PSC to PSC meetings) and Human Rights between senior officials and experts emanating from both institutions (the 18^th Dialogue occurred in Brussels in May 2022).

For more information on the main areas of cooperation between the EU and AU, see the page "Relations with the EU".

The Delegation to the African Union

H.E. Javier NIÑO PÉREZ

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The role of the EU Delegation

The Delegation to the African Union