ECDPM’s analysis argues that the EU and Africa aren’t just partners by choice anymore they’re increasingly bound by shared vulnerabilities. As global politics splinters into competing blocs, both regions face pressure on food security, energy access, critical minerals, and migration governance. The report makes the case for a more practical partnership: Europe needs diversified supply chains and geopolitical stability close to home, while African economies need investment, technology, and predictable market access to avoid being pulled into zero-sum competition between bigger powers. It’s less about grand summits and more about aligning concrete interests in trade, green industry, and regional security.
We can see this at work in the transformation of Morocco’s economy, which has shifted from low-value production to a hub for automotive manufacturing, renewable energy, and critical supply chains linking Europe and West Africa. Morocco’s trajectory shows what an EU-Africa partnership could look like when it’s anchored in long-term investment rather than ad-hoc crisis management. In a crowded and competitive global landscape, the question isn’t whether the EU and Africa need each other; it’s whether they can build the kind of cooperation that keeps both regions from being sidelined as the world fractures.
Listen to the full podcast on ECDPM’s website.