The seventh EU-African Union (AU) summit was held from the 24th to the 25th of November, in Angola, where European and African leaders discussed the Global Gateway initiative, raw materials, and security concerns (1). This year’s theme was “promoting peace and prosperity through effective multilateralism,” as together the unions represent 82 countries with a population of nearly 2 billion people (1). The challenges discussed are highly relevant and affect multiple nations. These include climate change, digitalization, irregular migration, conflicts, and the insecurity associated with them (2). Increasing trade was a priority as the EU seeks to secure essential minerals for its green transition and reduce its reliance on China for minerals used in electronic goods (2). Some argue that the EU's Global Gateway initiative is its response to China and its Belt and Road Initiative (1). At its core is the Lobito Corridor, a railroad project in collaboration with the United States that runs through Angola and links mineral-rich regions of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Atlantic coast (2).
Renewing EU-Africa Cooperation
In this century, the world has never experienced so much geopolitical tension. There is significant uncertainty in the political arena, and long-standing conventions are under immense threat (1). In addition, China is persuasively entering international markets (1). Amidst these uncertainties, European and African leaders are convening to reinvigorate ties between their nations and promote commerce, a task made more difficult by the growing influence of China, Russia, and the United States (2).
Historically, Africa has relied on the EU as its primary investment and trading partner (1). As Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, stated, a third of all African exports go to Europe (1). Rare earths, copper, cobalt, and lithium are some of the essential raw minerals that Europe needs for its industry and energy transition, and many African nations have them (1). As part of the cooperation and to offset China’s increasing influence, Europe launched the Global Gateway, a large infrastructure project that includes €300 billion in investments in Africa by 2027 (2). The previously mentioned Lobito Corridor is one of the initiative’s most prestigious projects, currently under construction in Angola. Moreover, the investment will build businesses ranging from logistics to agriculture. It is a testament to the EU's role in promoting trade within Africa and facilitating its entry into global markets (1).
The Limitations of the EU's Global Gateway Initiative
African nations have expressed their openness to collaborating with anyone who is receptive, noting, “The world does not consist of just one or two countries” (1). As there is significant competition, they wish to avoid unilateral dependence (1). Simultaneously, China has been investing in Africa’s infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative, including post-civil-war reconstruction in Angola in 2002 (1). In the shadow of colonial history, there is now an opportunity to establish this relationship on equal, non-paternalistic terms within the new global order (2).
Issues remain with the EU’s Global Gateway. Its design has largely overlooked African priorities and was not agreed upon with African stakeholders (1). Hermine Sam, program coordinator for the South at the German Marshall Fund, asserted that it is in the EU’s character to “make big speeches but deliver little.” (1). Moreover, a member of the Congolese civil society consultation framework noted that the EU prioritizes security and economic interests over democracy and human rights (2). At the same time, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized that Africa and Europe can drive a revitalized, equitable, inclusive, and representative multilateralism (3). He stresses support for Africa’s established position within the system, highlighting the specific agreements reached at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville (3).
An Uncertain Outlook
Overall, Luanda suggested that the focus has shifted from evaluating the words of EU-Africa collaborations to assessing their actions. The challenge now is whether the Global Gateway’s aspects, including the Lobito corridor, can be a step towards establishing the EU’s stance as more than a deliverer of “big speeches” and actually produce equality (1)(2).