Speakers:
Dr Stefan Cibian, Associate Fellow, Africa Programme, Chatham House
Faten Aggad, Senior Advisor to the African Union High Representative on AU-EU Negotiations
Bernard Quintin, Deputy Managing Director for Africa, European External Action Service
[Additional speakers to be confirmed]

The recent postponement of the sixth AU-EU summit until 2021, when it is likely to fall under Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, offers a chance to reflect on the influence of CEE-Africa ties on efforts to agree successors to two key guiding structures for Africa-EU relations – the Cotonou Agreement with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) with the African Union. CEE and African partners have an opportunity to align these processes with the priorities of their evolving relationships. Relations between countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Africa re-emerged with the accession of some CEE countries to the European Union, drawing upon historical links. 

At this virtual event, which will launch a new Africa Programme research paper, panellists will explore how African and CEE countries influence the structure and institutions of Africa-EU relations, and how the long-term landscape for CEE-Africa partnership – including the COVID-19 recovery in both regions – could prosper through these channels.

This event will also be broadcast live on the Chatham House Africa Programme Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/CHAfricaProg/live.