Foreign ministers from the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU) reaffirmed their commitment to enhanced cooperation on peace, security, economic development, and multilateral reform during the third EU-AU Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels on May 22, 2025. The gathering—co-chaired by EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and AU Executive Council Chair Tete António—brought together representatives from over 70 delegations, including 50+ foreign ministers, to assess progress since the 2022 EU-AU Summit.
Key outcomes of the meeting included renewed pledges to strengthen multilateralism, defend international law, and reform global institutions such as the UN, a focus on joint responses to emerging security threats, with the EU reaffirming over €1 billion in support via the European Peace Facility, and noting that half of its security missions are deployed in Africa, and plans to bolster economic integration, investments in critical raw materials, artificial intelligence, climate resilience, and youth employment across the two continents.
Amid growing geopolitical volatility, such as the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Sudan, and the withdrawal of Western forces from the Sahel, the Brussels meeting marked a shift toward pragmatic cooperation. Kallas acknowledged Europe’s waning influence in the Sahel as countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger pivot toward Russia, but emphasized Brussels’ intention to remain a key partner “We now have a new EU Special Representative for the Sahel and are revisiting our strategy with input from African partners.” Kallas also warned of the challenge posed by disinformation campaigns, particularly from Russia, saying “Misinformation is one of the tools Russia is using, especially in Africa. We must continue to counter false narratives with facts.”
The AU, now a permanent member of the G20, was praised for its leadership in mediating regional crises, including in Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where humanitarian needs are rapidly growing. The UN estimates 30 million people in Sudan now require aid, including 16 million children. The meeting concluded with renewed pledges to deepen collaboration in education, cultural exchange, mobility, and migration governance, emphasizing that implementation—not just dialogue—must now define the EU-AU partnership.
