• Mark Schrolle
• Ann-Marie Verhoeven

Assessing 25 Years of Partnership between the AU and EU: From Strong Economic Ties to Mutually Beneficial Relations

In this Spotlight, Mark Schrolle and Ann-Marie Verhoeven examine the current state of EU–AU trade and investment relations and identify avenues through which mutually beneficial and more equitable economic ties between the European bloc and the African continent can be fostered.

• Etienne Höra
• Philipp Wagner

More Than Plastic, Copper, and Glass Fibre? Undersea Cables and Promises of Connection between North Africa and the EU

The EU is promoting large-scale cables to North Africa that promise local development and geoeconomic alignment. Philipp Wagner and Etienne Höra argue that these promises are not self-evident: Fulfilling them requires analyses of political and economic corollaries to avoid negative side-effects.

More Trade, Less Aid

African states increasingly seek a trade, not aid partnership with Germany. Berlin will have to invest more in trade promotion, but also encourage the German private sector to develop market strategies for the continent. This will require a sharper Africa strategy that focuses on promoting Africa's market potential among German companies, in addition to stronger commercial diplomacy by German embassies and chambers of commerce.