EU-Africa Relations: Inter-parliamentary debate at the Pan-African Parliament

On 7 November 2025, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand hosted the high-level inter-parliamentary event “From Cairo to Luanda: A 25-Year Parliamentary Stocktake of AU-EU Relations”. IDOS researchers contributed to the debates.

IDOS researchers PD Dr habil. Julian Bergmann, Dr Benedikt Erforth and Dr Niels Keijzer offered analysis on political dynamics in AU-EU relations and on how both PAP and the European Parliament can strengthen their oversight roles.

Discussions focused on three strategic areas: peace and security, critical raw materials and the EU’s Global Gateway, as well as migration and mobility. Participants emphasised the growing need for stronger parliamentary engagement to ensure accountability, transparency and shared ownership of bi-regional cooperation. A recurring theme was the importance of moving beyond declarations towards concrete implementation and monitoring of joint initiatives.

Co-organised by the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), Open Society Foundations, the Centre for Human Rights, the PAP and the European Parliament, the event brought together parliamentarians, experts and civil society to reflect on the evolution of AU-EU relations since the inaugural Cairo Summit in 2000.