EU-Africa Relations: Energy and the Green Transition in an Era of Crises A New Model of Cooperation

This report was originally published on hss.de This report presents an analysis and recommendations regarding EU-Africa relations with a focus on the green transition and energy, the first priority area of the EU’s Comprehensive Strategy with Africa. It aims at identifying the areas in climate and energy policy in which jointly owned cooperation is possible, and how the partnership, ultimately, can unlock mutual benefits. Specifically, the report examines global challenges presented by this particular period of unprecedented climate, economic and geopolitical crises against which policies aimed at supporting the green transition in Africa and the EU are being implemented, and the effects of these on EU-Africa relations. The report explores the different paths by which Africa and the EU seek to attain a low carbon future, and the reality of a variable transition in African countries which must be both managed and supported. The challenges and risks which the EU Green Deal pose for Africa, and how these might be managed while observing principles of climate justice and equity, are also discussed; so too are the perceptions of the relationship and the challenges which must be navigated in the process of resetting the partnership in this era of particular volatility and change. The report’s main findings and recommendations are presented below.