Africa in Sight: Strategising a renewed EU focus on the Continent

Africa is (back) in sight. The belatedly formed coalition government in Germany, alongside the governments of France and the United Kingdom, has made ‘Africa’ a central focus of its political rhetoric. Numerous initiatives, from knowledge exchange to security exercises, stretch from the Sahel to South Africa. Translating these disparate endeavours into strategic policy – drawing on academic exchange to the possibilities embedded in, among others, PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) – can shape future perspectives and partnerships between the Europe, the European Union (EU) and Africa. This Policy Brief introduces key elements of the contemporary strategic context to offer a number of recommendations for a mutually useful re-engagement between the EU and the African Continent. Special emphasis is placed on human and health security.