institute of europe
the institute of europe of the russian academy of sciences
Analytical paper IE RAS No 42, 2025 «New contours of strategic partnership? Reflecting on the results of the EU–AU summit in Luanda»
- 12 December 2025
IE RAS presents Analytical papers of IE RAS No 42, 2025 «New contours of strategic partnership? Reflecting on the results of the EU–AU summit in Luanda» (in Russian) by Lyubov Bisson, Candidate of Science (Politics), Senior Researcher, Department of European Integration Studies, Institute of Europe RAS.
The article examines the seventh African Union–European Union Summit, held on 24–25 November 2025 in Luanda, and its role in advancing the strategic partnership between the two organizations amid growing geopolitical instability. It traces the evolution of AU–EU relations over the past 25 years: from a donor-driven model to a comprehensive political and investment partnership based on mutual benefit and joint responses to global challenges. Particular attention is paid to the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, Team Europe projects, development of the African Continental Free Trade Area, creation of value chains, and cooperation in the field of critical minerals. The Luanda Summit did not produce major breakthroughs, it reaffirmed the strategic nature of the partnership, highlighted new areas of mutual interest, and underscored key risks: from political instability and debt burdens in African states to the need for effectively translating declared initiatives into concrete projects.
