EU–Africa Energy Co-operation: Opportunities for Reshaping the EU’s Energy Partnership Offer

After the EU election in June 2024, the new Commission will hold the power to demonstrate global climate leadership and reshape its partnership offer. However, the elections also entail risks for partnerships, for example if populist, radical right parties gain political strength. A significant shift to the right could significantly impede the EU’s foreign climate policy, including the Africa–EU co-operation on energy. 

In an increasingly multipolar world, close collaboration between countries and regions with shared interests gain importance. Given the strong historical ties and growing economic relations between Africa and Europe, partnerships with the African continent must remain a focus of the EU. As part of the Africa–EU co-operation, energy should be assingned highest priority as a cross-cutting and central issue of climate mitigation and sustainable development. In this vein, our policy brief provides five recommendations for reshaping the EU’s partnership offer on energy co-operation.