EU-AU Final Communiqué Urges Stronger Support for Justice and Peaceful Conflict Resolution
BRUSSELS — The third Ministerial Meeting between the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) concluded with a joint communiqué that reaffirmed core principles supporting the rights of peoples still denied their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, with specific reference to the Sahrawi people.
Amid ongoing global geopolitical shifts, foreign ministers from both Unions praised the strength of their strategic partnership, rooted in “shared values, mutual respect, and common interests.” The final statement emphasized the importance of fair and just cooperation, aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063 — a vision that includes the full eradication of colonialism from the African continent.
The communiqué also reaffirmed the joint commitment to the “Vision for 2030,” originally adopted at the 2022 Brussels Summit, which stresses justice, peace, sustainable development, and inclusive governance. Ministers agreed to reinforce mechanisms for monitoring these commitments and announced a comprehensive review at the upcoming EU-AU Summit in Africa, which will mark 25 years since the launch of this intercontinental partnership at the 2000 Cairo Summit.
For advocates of the Sahrawi cause, the communiqué’s clear references to Agenda 2063 and the principles of the UN Charter signal a renewed international momentum toward resolving the Western Sahara conflict on the basis of international law and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. The EU-AU partnership, they argue, must continue to be anchored in justice and the defense of fundamental rights.
