AU-EU Civil Society and Youth Forum
Building on the success of the EU-AU Ministerial’s Civil Society-Youth Forum in Brussels on 20 May 2025, 100 African and European Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Youth actors will convene in Luanda, Angola for a 2-day exchange on their region’s challenges to identify recommendations together that will feed into the Leaders' political debate.
Through moderated panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions, the Forum provides a unique platform to CSOs and Youth representatives to actively participate in the AU-EU Summit. The Forum aims to further increase participants' understanding of the EU and Africa’s work on strengthening their strategic partnership that was renewed with the AU-EU Joint Vision 2030 adopted at the Summit of Heads of State and Government in 2022.
Following the forum, consolidated recommendations of the Forum will be presented by representatives to political Leaders at the AU-EU Summit. A Joint Declaration will be presented and shared with the public here.
Civil Society and Youth’s central role in the EU-AU Partnership
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and young people are key stakeholders in the EU-AU Partnership and play a critical role in conveying aspirations and concerns. Civil society and youth engagement is highlighted in numerous relevant strategies, such as the EU-AU Joint Vision 2030, the final declaration of the 6th AU-EU Summit, as well as the Samoa Agreement which was signed in November 2023 and includes Africa as the geographically largest and most populous region in this framework.
Programme
The participants engaged in interactive dynamic discussions over a period of two days. The first day will allow the representatives to immerse themselves in the key areas of the EU-Africa Partnership including the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package as preparation for specialised policy discussions. On the second day, participants will finalise their suggestions for an enhanced EU-Africa Partnership in breakout sessions. Their key messages will be officially presented during the opening ceremony of the 7th AU-EU Summit on 25 November 2025.
Joint Declaration of African and European Civil Societies and Youth - Recommendations to Leaders and AU-EU Institutions
- 24 NOVEMBER 2025
AU-EU CSO-Youth Declaration – Full Version
English
(259.66 KB - PDF)
- 24 NOVEMBER 2025
AU-EU CSO-Youth Declaration – Summit précis
English
(198.95 KB - PDF)
About the AU-EU Summit
The African Union and European Union formally established their partnership 25 years ago in Cairo, Egypt, during the first Africa-EU Summit. Since then, the ties between the two continents have continued to grow stronger. As Europe’s closest neighbour, Africa is a key geopolitical priority for the European Union. The EU is Africa’s leading partner in peace and security, the green transition and energy, trade and investment, and the digital transformation.
On 24-25 November 2025, African and European Heads of State and Government will convene for the seventh time to discuss the most pressing issues of our times and pave the way forward for continued collaborative efforts for a more sustainable and peaceful future. The Summit is hosted by Angola that currently holds the rotating African Union presidency. Marking the 25th anniversary of trusted cooperation, this year's Summit comes at a pivotal time. Leaders will focus on deepenign the partnership in key areas such as peace and security, economic integration, trade, multilateralism, green development, digitalisation, migration and mobility, as well as human development.
Other Side Events
EU-Africa Business Forum
The side event offers a platform for dialogue, bringing together African and European business leaders. It aims to increase investment and trade opportunities aligned with the Global Gateway strategy and Agenda 2063, fostering sustainable economic partnerships between the two continents.
