The European Commission launches new migration partnership with Mauritania
On March 7 2024, the European Union has strengthened the cooperation between EU and Mauritania by launching a migration partnership and dialogue. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson together with the Mauritanian Minister of Interior and Decentralisation, Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine, have signed a Joint Declaration launching an EU-Mauritania migration partnership.
EU-Angola: Council gives final greenlight to the EU’s first sustainable investment facilitation agreement
On 4 March 2024, the Council adopted a decision on the conclusion of the sustainable investment facilitation agreement (SIFA) between the European Union and Angola. This agreement will make it easier to attract and expand investments while integrating environment and labour rights commitments in the EU-Angola relationship.
EU provides initial €171 million in humanitarian aid for Greater Horn of Africa region
People in the Horn of Africa are facing mounting humanitarian needs as the region is plagued by multiple conflicts, climate extremes and economic shocks. Around 65 million are estimated to be in immediate need of assistance. The EU announced on February 27 2024, an initial allocation of €171 million in humanitarian aid to the region. This funding is in addition to €72 million already announced for Sudan. Overall, the total initial allocation for humanitarian aid to the Greater Horn of Africa in 2024 is €243 million.
Global Gateway: Côte d’Ivoire and the EU unite to safeguard forests and combat illegal logging
On the 19th of February 2024, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, Ivorian Minister of Water and Forests Laurent Tchagba, and Ambassador, Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union, Willem van de Voorde, signed a legally binding trade agreement to promote sustainable trade of legal timber to the EU. Through this agreement, Côte d’Ivoire will improve forest governance, modernise its forestry sector and address illegal logging and associated trade. At the same time, the agreement will give EU-based timber buyers assurance that timber products from Côte d’Ivoire are legal.
The EU announces EUR 117 million in humanitarian aid for Chad and Sudan in 2024
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, is currently visiting Chad to ascertain the humanitarian situation in the country and meet with the authorities. During this visit, the Commissioner will announce new funding of EUR 45 million in EU humanitarian aid for Chad.
Global Gateway: European Commission and African Development Bank Group unlock new funding for African infrastructure projects
The European Commission (EC) and the African Development Bank Group have formalised a new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement to boost investments in infrastructure projects in Africa.The European Union's contribution to co-finance operations with the African Development Bank has significantly increased over the last two years, now amounting to €972 million in blending operations and guarantees. This figure will further increase after the signing of the new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement.
Global Gateway: EU and Horn of Africa countries sign Alliance to boost economic development and combat climate change
Today in Brussels, during the 19th Horn of Africa Initiative Ministerial, co-chaired by European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, and representatives of the Horn of Africa Countries, the EU and Germany, both signed a new EU Alliance for the Horn of Africa Initiative. The initiative follows discussions at the last Ministerial in Addis Ababa in October, attended by Commissioner Urpilainen. It further rolls out the EU positive and sustainable Global Gateway strategy and will boost trade, economic integration and resilience in the region with €83 million support from the EU budget.
Global Gateway: EU increases support to vaccine production in Rwanda as first mRNA facility opens
Marking the inauguration today of the first BioNTech Africa manufacturing site in Kigali, Rwanda, the European Union has increased its Global Gateway investments in the country under the Team Europe Initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa (MAV+).
EU and Kenya sign ambitious Economic Partnership Agreement with strong sustainability provisions
The EU and Kenya today signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to boost bilateral trade in goods, increase investment flows, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
The EPA provides a platform to support job creation on both sides, along with targeted cooperation to enhance Kenya's economic development. It is the most ambitious trade deal ever signed by the EU with a developing country when it comes to sustainability provisions such as climate and environmental protection, labour rights and gender equality.
Hearing on the EU-Africa Strategy
On 28 November 2023, the Committee on Development held a public hearing on the EU-Africa Strategy. Members discussed how it delivered against the background of geopolitical tensions and changes that development cooperation has undergone recently. Moderators: Mr Carlos Zorrinho and Mr Karsten Lucke.