The EU’s next long-term budget must make climate and development finance for Africa a core strategic priority. This is essential to strengthen Europe’s security, economic resilience, and global influence in an increasingly competitive and interconnected world.
This policy brief argues that a stronger EU engagement in Africa delivers a threefold benefit: reinforcing peace and stability, unlocking mutual economic opportunities, and enhancing the EU’s geopolitical leverage and soft power. At the same time, declining investment risks undermining both Africa’s development prospects and Europe’s own long-term interests.
Against this backdrop, the paper calls for a significant scaling up of EU investment, backed by predictable and protected funding over the full budget cycle, and a clear alignment of external spending with climate, biodiversity, and development objectives. It further underscores the need to safeguard these commitments through stronger accountability and robust environmental standards.
The next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) is a decisive opportunity to reposition the EU as a credible and reliable partner – and to build a future of shared stability and prosperity with Africa.
