Beyond promises: the AU-EU summit must strengthen multilateral peace and security

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) analyzes the potential for the EU-AU summit in Luanda to reinvigorate the partnership between Europe and Africa as a driver for multilateral reform, specifically regarding global peace, security, and governance.

• The EU-AU summit scheduled for 24-25 November 2025 in Luanda, Angola, serves as a platform for both continents to address the crisis of multilateralism and the erosion of authority in traditional global institutions. Both regions recognize that they cannot shape the international agenda alone and must build coalitions to navigate a global landscape where the UN Security Council is no longer representative or equitable.
• There is a divergence in how Africa and Europe approach the reform of global governance. Africa prioritizes legitimacy and structural reform to correct historical imbalances, specifically citing the 2005 Ezulwini Consensus which seeks two permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent seats for African states in the UN Security Council. Conversely, the EU tends to prioritize procedural reforms and gradual, negotiated processes that consider all underrepresented regions.
• The implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, adopted in 2023 to provide UN funding for AU peace operations via assessed contributions, has stalled. The authors argue that making this resolution operational is a critical test for the AU-EU partnership and requires predictable financing, joint planning, and improved AU-EU-UN coordination.
• To ensure the Luanda summit is meaningful, the paper proposes three essential steps: establishing a joint axis for credible multilateral reform to rebuild trust, operationalizing UN Security Council Resolution 2719 through clear funding and accountability, and increasing investment in bilateral dialogue and technical-level exchanges over aspirational declarations.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2025). Beyond promises: the AU-EU summit must strengthen multilateral peace and security. https://saiia.org.za/research/beyond-promises-the-au-eu-summit-must-strengthen-multilateral-peace-and-security/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Beyond promises: the AU-EU summit must strengthen multilateral peace and security. 2025. https://saiia.org.za/research/beyond-promises-the-au-eu-summit-must-strengthen-multilateral-peace-and-security/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Beyond promises: the AU-EU summit must strengthen multilateral peace and security |date=21 November 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/beyond-promises-the-au-eu-summit-must-strengthen-multilateral-peace-and-security/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2025beyond, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Beyond promises: the AU-EU summit must strengthen multilateral peace and security}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/beyond-promises-the-au-eu-summit-must-strengthen-multilateral-peace-and-security/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }