The European Union (EU) is dealing with a number of challenges close to home, while at the same time seeking to play a more significant global role. Our European External Affairs programme wants to help the EU institutions and member states in working towards coherent and effective international cooperation, particularly with Africa.
In the past years, the EU has grappled with a number of challenges at home – including conflicts coming closer to its borders and a rise of populist and nationalist movements. At the same time, the EU wants to position itself more as a geopolitical actor in a global landscape that is rapidly changing and increasingly competitive. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges for the world. In parallel, there is growing awareness of racial injustice, systemic inequalities and power imbalances. All of this will have a strong bearing on the EU’s foreign and development policy, as well as relations with its partners.
What we do
- We analyse EU foreign and development policy, budgets and instruments, as well as its effects and implementation in partner countries.
- We look at the EU’s partnerships and international cooperation, particularly with Africa.
- We look at how global developments and domestic politics affect EU foreign and development policy, funding priorities and partnerships.
Our focus is on the implementation of the EU’s long-term budget, its aid programming and its external response to COVID-19, as well as on Africa-Europe relations.
Other topics we explore include the EU’s strategic autonomy and its geopolitical ambitions, its engagement in multilateral fora, and its digital, climate, health and peacebuilding agendas. Throughout our work, we will also pay attention to racial injustice, systemic power imbalances and gender inequality.
For more information about our recent activities and projects, have a look at our 2021 work plan or our 2019 annual report.
Get in touch
Do you want to know more about our work or are you interested in partnering with us? Get in touch with one of our team members.
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