EU-Africa trade and investment relations : towards greater convergence?

Abstract

To achieve economic and sustainable development objectives shared by both actors, European trade and investment relations with Africa must better build on and support African priorities and dynamics. The intellectual foundation for EU cooperation with African nations has traditionally been shaped from outside the continent. In the post-2020 period the policy agenda should be fully African owned and driven. Thiscalls for an EU external economic relations strategy that is centred around support for strategic priorities determined by African policymakers and stakeholders to leverage trade and investment opportunities to realize African development objectives. Looking forward, technological changes - notably growth in the digital economy - implies greater convergence in policy reform priorities, providing a stronger basis for cooperation to support economic transformation in Africa.