5th EU-Africa Summit, 29-30 November 2017

Further information:

This summit marked ten years since the adoption of the joint Africa-EU Strategy, in December 2007.

African and EU leaders discussed the future of the relations between the two sides, focusing on investing in youth. Other priorities included peace and security, governance, investment and trade, skills development and job creation.

Beyond the agenda, the critical situation of migrants stranded in Libya which are sold for slovery got most of the media attention.

The 4th Africa-Europe Youth Summit was held in October 2017, in the run up to this meeting. It produced a declaration including recommendations aimed at contributing to the discussion. In the margins of the Summit, the 6th EU-Africa business forum took place on 27 November.

Previous EU-Africa Summits:

+ 1st EU-Africa Summit, 2000
+ 2nd EU-Africa Summit, December 2007
+ 3rd EU-Africa Summit, 29-30 November 2010
+ 4th EU-Africa Summit, 2-3 April 2014

The fifth summit between the African Union and the European Union was held in Abidjan (Ivory Coast, Côte d'Ivoire) on 29-30 November 2017.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Press Release, 30.11.17: African Union - European Union Summit: Investing in Youth for a Sustainable Future http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-5007_en.htm

European Council: Opening remarks by President Donald Tusk opening the 5th African Union-European Union summit in Abidjan http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/11/29/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-opening-the-5th-african-union-european-union-summit-in-abidjan/

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk at the press conference of the 5th African Union-European Union summit http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/11/30/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-at-the-press-conference-of-the-5th-african-union-european-union-summit/

EUObserver, 30.11.17: EU-Africa summit on youth met with scepticism https://euobserver.com/foreign/140109

EurActiv, 01.12.17: EU-Africa agree on repatriating migrants, but not on the bill https://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/eu-africa-agree-on-repatriating-migrants-but-not-on-the-bill/

European Council: Joint statement on the migrant situation in Libya http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/12/01/au-eu-summit-joint-statement-on-the-migrant-situation-in-libya/

Politico, 29.11.17: EU seeks new start with Africa — again https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-africa-seeks-new-start-again/

European Commission: Keynote speech by Vice-President Ansip at the opening ceremony of the 6th EU-Africa Business Forum http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-4962_en.htm

EU: EEAS: Closing remarks by High-Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at the 6th European Union-Africa Business Forum https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/36346/

European Commission: Intervention du Président Jean-Claude Juncker à la séance d'ouverture du 5ème sommet Union africaine-Union européenne http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-5032_fr.htm

European Commission: Joint press release of the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-5029_en.htm

EPRS: What Think Tanks are Thinking: The EU And Africa http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-and-africa-what-think-tanks-are-thinking-2/

Official Website: African Union - European Union Summit 2017 http://www.sommetuaue2017.ci/

EurActiv, 27.11.17: Libya human bondage risks overshadowing Africa-EU summit http://www.euractiv.com/section/development-policy/news/libya-human-bondage-risks-overshadowing-africa-eu-summit/

EUObserver, 23.11.17: [Opinion] EU must put Sudan under microscope at Africa summit https://euobserver.com/opinion/139980

EurActiv, 09.11.17: [Interview] 36 ‘Youth Fellows’ generate ideas for EU-Africa summit https://www.euractiv.com/section/development-policy/interview/36-youth-fellows-generate-ideas-for-eu-africa-summit/

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