AU and EU Leaders Commit to Renewed Partnership with Strong Focus on an African Green Transition
In a final declaration from the 6th EU-AU Summit in Brussels on 17-18 February the leaders of the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) committed to a joint vision for a renewed partnership. The aim is for the continents to build a common future as close partners and neighbours.
During the Summit the Africa-Europe Investment Package of approximately EUR 150 billion was announced to support the continents’ common ambitions for Agenda 2030 and the AU Agenda 2063. The Global Gateway Investment Package builds on existing initiatives and partnerships and aims to boost public and private investment. In line with priorities and needs of the African countries, and supported by Team Europe Initiatives, the package will boost large-scale sustainable investments in seven areas. Three of them deal specifically with energy and climate, including:
1) investment in energy, transport and digital infrastructure aligned with the PIDA PAP II;
2) a fair, just and equitable energy transition;
3) a green transition including supporting the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) of African countries.
In their joint final declaration, the African and European leaders also recognised that Africa’s energy transition is vital for its industrialisation and announced their support for Africa to host COP27 in Egypt in 2022.
The Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative
In the context of the Summit, Team Europe also proposed the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative. The aim is to support Africa’s green transition in the energy sector by increasing renewable energy capacity, increasing access to affordable and reliable energy for all Africans and, promoting sustainable energy uses and supporting market integration and sector reforms.
The main pillars of the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative are firstly, regional electricity interconnections and market integration, secondly, energy transition partnerships and, thirdly, clean hydrogen production in Africa.
To increase regional electricity interconnections between African countries, the EU will support African partners to develop the Continental Power System Masterplan (CMP) and support with technical assistance for setting up the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM).
Energy Transition Partnerships in Africa will be co-developed in a number of African counties to enhance climate objectives and decarbonise the energy mix.
The Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative also proposes to promote new opportunities for cooperation on clean hydrogen production in Africa through four modes of cooperation: research, regulation, investments and trade.
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