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Infosheet Bulletin: EU-South Africa Cooperation

  • The Africa-Europe Foundation

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Download the Infosheet Bulletin: EU-South Africa Cooperation

South Africa is the EU’s leading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa for trade, investment and scientific cooperation. As the first African nation to chair the G20, it holds a key role in shaping global economic governance reform; an agenda also shared and supported by the EU.

This year marks a milestone in Africa-EU relations, with several high-level engagements reinforcing their strategic partnership. After seven years, the EU and South Africa convened a bilateral summit on March 13, 2025, bringing together key leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This summit followed the 16th EU-South Africa Ministerial meeting on February 16, 2025, further strengthening cooperation.

Building on these engagements, this is a pivotal moment to take stock of progress, reaffirm a shared commitment to economic stability and resilience, and lay the groundwork for a more dynamic and mutually beneficial Africa-Europe partnership in this landmark year for AU-EU institutional relations.

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Download the Infosheet Bulletin: EU-South Africa Cooperation

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The Africa-Europe Foundation

The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) is the only organisation of its kind shared equally by stakeholders from both Africa and Europe. It is an independent platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue, frank debate and strategic analysis bringing together experts and leaders from diverse organisation settings (civil society, policymaking, private sector, academia), to strengthen the partnership between Africa and Europe. Our multi-stakeholder Strategy and Working Groups offer a safe space for exchange on critical, sometimes contentious issues between Africa and Europe and form the backbone of AEF’s work to catalyse innovative partnerships and unlock untapped areas of cross-continental cooperation, from Green Industrialisation to the future of health and the reform of financial systems to climate, energy, agri-food systems, blue economy, youth, Digital and AI.