Closing Address Delivered by the Chairperson of the African Union, João Lourenço

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the European Union; His Excellency António Costa, President of the European Council; His Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen, After two days of intensive and highly productive work, we have reached the conclusion of this 7th African Union–European Union Summit, held under the theme: **“Promoting Peace and Prosperity through Effective Multilateralism.” I would like, first and foremost, to express my profound gratitude for your active participation and for the commitment demonstrated here to the importance we attach to deepening and strengthening the strategic partnership that has existed for 25 years between our two continental organisations. The deliberations resulting from this Summit reflect a profound collective vision of the ties that unite our two continents, which are destined and compelled to move forward together, build common understandings and jointly seek solutions to issues of shared concern, as demonstrated throughout our discussions on Peace and Security, Prosperity, Migration and Mobility. We agreed that the defence of effective multilateralism remains our best hope for building a fairer, more balanced, peaceful and prosperous world. Your Excellencies, This Summit has made it clear to all of us that the European Union–African Union partnership is not based merely on a set of ideas, but above all on concrete actions pursued with great dynamism, a practical approach and results that have a transformative impact on our peoples. The positive evolution of relations between the European Union and the African Union since the Brussels Summit in 2022 is reflected in the highly positive results achieved through our cooperation in peace and security, health, climate and energy cooperation, digital transformation, trade and investment, as well as mobility and migration. The specific aspects of these important achievements are reflected in the Implementation Report of the Declaration of the 6th Summit, adopted within the framework of this meeting in Luanda, which highlights the progress achieved while also recognising the areas where further progress is required. The critical assessment we continue to make of our cooperation and of the actions we undertake jointly enables us to continuously improve and refine our cooperative efforts. This aspect, to which we attach fundamental importance, is reflected in the outcomes of this forum, which has concluded successfully, as embodied in the **Luanda Declaration on the 7th African Union–European Union Partnership Summit**. The Declaration reflects our political will to continue moving forward together along paths that will lead to results with a positive impact on development and on improving the living conditions of the peoples of Africa and Europe. In this context, I would like to highlight the fact that we agreed on the need to expand cooperation in the area of peace and security by promoting stronger joint responses to terrorism and violent extremism; To intensify climate action, including financing for adaptation and resilience, as well as support for Africa’s energy transition; To strengthen economic ties through commitments aimed at boosting investment in infrastructure, manufacturing and sustainable agriculture; To expand mobility and people-to-people exchanges, ensuring that migration is safe, orderly and beneficial to both continents; and To promote youth empowerment through education, skills development and entrepreneurship programmes. Your Excellencies, We have often stated that African Union–European Union cooperation is dynamic and that, for this very reason, we intend always to go beyond what we have already achieved and to establish perspectives that expand results and mutual benefits, while strengthening our shared ambition to raise the objectives we seek to achieve to ever higher levels. It is therefore our firm conviction that, during the 2028 Summit to be held in Europe, our shared vision regarding industrialisation, trade and investment, sustainable financing, leadership on climate change, digital and innovation partnerships, and the strengthening of our collective action within the multilateral system will become clearer and even more far-reaching. Your Excellencies, I am certain that we will leave here deeply committed to implementing our decisions, increasingly confident that our joint efforts generate clear mutual benefits, bring us ever closer together, strengthen and improve mutual understanding, and deepen our role within the community of nations as partners determined to contribute to building a more balanced world — one of peace, justice and prosperity for all the peoples of our planet. Once again, I thank all the delegations that came to Luanda and honoured this major event with their presence. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation and commendation to the teams of the African Union Commission and the European Commission for their tireless work in making this Summit possible and ensuring its undeniable success. I wish you a safe journey back to your respective countries and express the hope that, in 2028, at their 8th Summit, the African Union and the European Union will enthusiastically celebrate new achievements along the path that we have travelled together over the past 25 years. As the present year will come to an end in just a few days, allow me to extend to you all our best wishes for a New Year of peace, prosperity and harmony among the peoples of our planet. Thank you very much for your attention.