A joint vision for peace, prosperity and mobility
In Brussels, the foreign ministers of the EU and AU are strengthening the partnership between the two continents - with a focus on security, prosperity and joint migration.
Clara Krug,
23.05.2025 
“Exactly 14 kilometres separate Europe and Africa. We are not only geographically close, however. We also share common interests and want to further strengthen our cooperation. What happens on our neighbouring continent affects us directly and vice versa.”
The words that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul used on social media to describe the first joint meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) and the African Union(AU) in more than three years reflected the close ties between the two continents. Following the meeting in Brussels on 21 May 2025, Wadephul stressed not only their geographical proximity but also their shared strategic interests. Key issues of their partnership were on the agenda of the foreign ministers’ meeting - from peace and security, economic prosperity and multilateral cooperation to migration and mobility.
Standing together for peace and security
“We discussed how we could jointly bring about greater security. We in the EU support our African partners in their commitment and efforts to resolve conflicts on the African continent,” said Wadephul, highlighting how closely the foreign and security policy agendas of Europe and Africa are interwoven.
The EU-AU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, chaired by the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Angola’s Foreign Minister Tete António, thus sent a strong political signal for continuing the dialogue platform that was initiated in 2019. More than 30 foreign ministers from Africa travelled to Brussels to push forward with the Joint Vision for 2030 and to prepare for the next EU-AU summit, which is expected to take place in Africa in the fourth quarter of 2025.
We want to exploit the massive potential for even more mutually beneficial economic exchange and innovation.
It also became clear at the meeting how important the partnership of the two unions is from an economic viewpoint: “As the largest trade partner and investor in Africa, the EU is also a strong partner for Africa. We want to exploit the massive potential for even more mutually beneficial economic exchange and innovation,” explained the foreign minister.
For a strong rules-based order
Wadephul made it equally clear that the challenges of the rules-based international order concern all partners: “It is not only Europe and Africa that benefit from a world with strong rules. Yet the rules-based international order is being challenged every day at the moment. That’s why we want to work together to strengthen this order.”
In this context, the EU is seeking deeper cooperation on an equal footing, based on shared interests and shared responsibility - a leitmotif that also applies to migration. “We also want to cooperate closely on migration issues to jointly combat the causes of migration and flight, to curb irregular migration and to further develop legal paths to migration,” said Wadephul.
Together we have a lot to do. I am looking forward to continuing the cooperation between the EU and the AU.
25 years of partnership
There is also good reason to look back at the past quarter century in 2025: “This year the EU and the AU are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their cooperation”, recalled Wadephul, stressing: “Together we have a lot to do. I am looking forward to continuing the cooperation between the EU and the AU.” As he emphasised, the meeting was also a chance for him personally to get to know many of his counterparts from Africa. The partnership’s future lies also in mutual trust and regular meetings, after all.
