The African Union-European Union Civil Society and Youth Forum, held in Luanda, Angola, on 20-21 November 2025, was a consequential moment in the maturation of civic engagement between Africa and Europe. Organised as part of the commemorations of 25 years of the African Union-European Union partnership (#AUEU25), the Forum assembled over 200 youth leaders and civil society representatives from across both continents, demonstrating the growing influence of civic actors in moulding strategic cooperation and sustainable development, including initiatives aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway, Africa’s Agenda 2063, and the AU-EU Joint Vision 2030.
Emerging from the inaugural virtual Forum held during the AU-EU Ministerial Summit in May 2025, the Luanda event transitioned from digital deliberation to an in-person, institutionalised platform for dialogue. For the first time, civil society from both continents converged within a formal architecture designed to advance people-to-people engagement, consolidate civic voices, and deepen cross-regional cooperation on shared global priorities. The Forum opened under the auspices of distinguished dignitaries whose presence conferred both political legitimacy and renewed momentum to the Africa-Europe partnership. Among them were H.E. Rui Luís Falcão Pinto de Andrade, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Angola; H.E. Rosário Bento Pais, Ambassador of the European Union to Angola; and H.E. Danila Patrícia de Almeida Bragança, Secretary of State for Youth.
In the months preceding the convening, youth and CSOs engaged in virtual consultations aligned with the AU-EU Joint Vision 2030, resulting in a CSO-Youth Declaration for presentation at the 7th AU–EU Summit (24-25 November). The deliberations revolved around four strategic clusters: Peace, Security and Governance; Multilateralism; Prosperity; and People, producing recommendations addressing mobility and migration dynamics, intercultural collaboration, digital innovation, climate resilience, and enhanced diplomatic engagement.
As part of ECOSOCC’s engagement, Programme Officer Ms Adesola Adeyemo chaired the high-level panel “Advancing the AU–EU Joint Vision 2030.”
She noted the strategic value of civil society and youth, observing that the Joint Vision 2030 bears palpable implications for everyday life and that civil society serves as a vector through which political commitments result in social impact and operational reality.
The panel brought senior institutional actors, including Mr Stan Takawira of the AUC’s Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation Directorate and Mr Domenico Rosa, Head of Unit for Strategic Partnerships with Africa and ACP at the European Commission, along with eminent civil society leaders. Exchanges illuminated the evolving contours of AU-EU, highlighted areas of progress, and delineated civic responsibilities in driving implementation. A recurrent thread was the interdependence between Africa and Europe, a reality that compels the need for governance frameworks that are agile, interoperable and politically resilient.
Closing the two-day Forum, ECOSOCC’s Head of Programmes, Mr Kyeretwie Osei, reflected on the institution’s mandate, recalling its role in integrating citizen perspectives, particularly those of youth and organised civil society, into the AU decision-making.
He emphasised the necessity of continued engagement with political leadership on both continents to guarantee that the recommendations of the Joint CSO-Youth Declaration are acknowledged and operationalised. Mr Osei concluded by commending the Government of Angola, as host, and for its commitment to youth empowerment and participatory governance, affirming Angola's growing leadership in continental civic affairs.
