The implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the EU’s Relations with Africa

The document argues that while the Lisbon Treaty streamlines the EU's internal bureaucracy and foreign policy apparatus, it is likely to result in Africa commanding less attention on the EU's strategic agenda. The author suggests that the EU's focus will shift toward the Western Balkans, the Middle East, and emerging powers, while its ability to provide development aid may be constrained by the Eurozone financial crisis. Consequently, the brief recommends that African leaders diversify their economic and diplomatic partnerships beyond the EU, specifically by strengthening South-South cooperation with countries such as China, India, Brazil, and Russia.

• The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, aims to improve the EU's international position by streamlining bureaucratic processes and enabling the union to speak with a single voice on foreign policy.
• The EU's new foreign policy priorities are expected to focus on four primary areas: stability in the Western Balkans, intervention capacity in the Middle East and South Asia, trans-Atlantic relations, and partnerships with emerging powers including Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• Africa is likely to see a reduction in EU attention, with strategic interests potentially limited to North African security threats, the African Union's security architecture, and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
• The EU's capacity for external development assistance is threatened by internal financial instability, specifically the sovereign debt crisis in Greece and the resulting austerity measures in Spain, Portugal, and Italy.
• The relationship between the EU and Africa remains asymmetrical and strained, particularly regarding the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which some African nations view as a prioritisation of EU mercantilism over development.
• African policymakers are advised to diversify their development assistance and export markets by pursuing South-South cooperation with emerging powers to reduce dependence on the EU.

APA

Qobo, M. (2010). The implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the EU’s Relations with Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Policy-Briefing-18.pdf

Chicago

Qobo, Mzukisi. The implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the EU’s Relations with Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2010. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Policy-Briefing-18.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Qobo |first1=Mzukisi |title=The implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the EU’s Relations with Africa |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2010 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Policy-Briefing-18.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{qobo2010implications, author = {Qobo, Mzukisi}, title = {{The implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the EU’s Relations with Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2010}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Policy-Briefing-18.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }