By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African Union (AU) and
the European Union (EU) have reviewed cooperation on energy, transport and
digital infrastructure, with a focus on translating joint commitments into
projects on the ground.
H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge,
Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, held a bilateral engagement with
H.E. Javier Niño Perez, Ambassador of the European Union to the African Union, at
the EU Delegation in Addis Ababa. Delegations from both institutions
participated in the meeting, which reviewed cooperation across the department’s
portfolio and follow-through on the outcomes of the 7th AU-EU Summit.
Discussions on energy
focused on the African Single Electricity Market and the Continental Power
Systems Master Plan, including efforts to identify priority interconnectors
needed to advance regional electricity market integration. The two sides also
discussed the continental agenda for clean cooking, green hydrogen and energy
efficiency.
Transport discussions
covered the Single African Air Transport Market, aviation safety, road safety
and the harmonisation of road transport regulation.
On digital infrastructure,
the engagement addressed implementation of the Digital Transformation Strategy
for Africa and the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Discussions
also covered EU support through the Policy and Regulatory Initiative for
Digital Africa and the Team Europe Initiative on Data Governance, alongside
efforts to expand access to affordable connectivity across the continent.
The Programme for
Infrastructure Development in Africa provides the pipeline for infrastructure
projects, while the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package is intended
to align investment behind those priorities. The AU-EU Thematic Working Group on
Infrastructure serves as a platform for coordinating that alignment.
The engagement also
emphasised identifying and delivering joint investment priorities within the
current cycle, moving cooperation beyond policy frameworks towards
implementation.
