Europe and Africa in a time of crisis

With international relations in flux, can we prevent marginal differences from undermining joint responses?

Date: 2022-06-27

Time: 13:30 to 15:30

Venue: In person, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Addis Ababa (register to attend in-person) or online via Zoom (register to attend online)

Only a few months after the African Union (AU)–European Union (EU) Summit in Brussels, the partnership is being tested. The EU’s Strategic Compass seeks a more ambitious and capable security sector in the face of evolving threats. And AU reforms aim to better position the body to deal with new challenges.

In this context, what is the value-add of the EU–AU partnership? How do we prevent marginal differences from affecting our ability to jointly respond to global cross-border challenges? And how do we enlist other strategic partners?

This seminar brings together African and European officials and thinkers to talk about challenges and opportunities presented by today’s political, security and economic crises.

This seminar is co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the European Union Delegation to the African Union and the European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR).

Moderator: Paul-Simon Handy, ISS Regional Director East Africa and Representative to the AU

Panelists:

Nick Westcott, Director, Royal African Society
Amb Birgitte Markussen, EU Ambassador to the AU and UNECA
Amb Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security
Dr Abdeta Dribssa Beyene, Executive Director, Center for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation
Amb Rémi Maréchaux, Ambassador of France to Ethiopia and the AU
Amb Edward Xolisa Makaya, Permanent Representative of South Africa to Ethiopia and the AU
Amb Madeleine Garlick, UK Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the AU