Peace and security
Dialogue and coordinated approaches concerning conflict prevention, peacebuilding, security institutions and regional stability.
Policy · Areas of cooperation
How cooperation priorities evolved
A guide to the historical frameworks that organised cross-continental work on peace, institutions, human development, sustainable growth and shared global issues.
The Recorded groups cooperation by policy theme while keeping the date and status of each framework visible.
Understanding the framework
The strategy and roadmaps on this page are historical records. They explain how priorities were organised at particular points in time rather than describing a current work programme.
The Joint Strategy established a long-term framework for relations between African and European institutions. Its implementation was structured around jointly identified subjects considered relevant on both continents.
The model concentrated on work at global, continental and cross-regional levels, especially where participating institutions could act collectively. It sought to connect political dialogue with practical cooperation and to make space for contributions from civil society and economic actors.
A later 2014–2017 roadmap consolidated implementation into five broad priorities. Because that roadmap has concluded, the categories below are presented as an accessible guide to the historical record.
Five roadmap priorities
The 2014–2017 roadmap arranged activity into five connected areas. Each title below leads to the corresponding subject archive.
Democracy, governance and human rights
Public institutions, accountable governance, civic participation, rule-of-law questions and the protection of rights.
Human development
Education, research, health, skills, mobility and knowledge exchange as foundations for long-term opportunity.
Sustainable growth and continental integration
Trade, infrastructure, regional links and development approaches intended to distribute benefits more widely.
Global and emerging issues
Cross-border challenges including climate, energy, migration, technology and other subjects requiring coordinated responses.
Framework documents
Primary texts are most useful when read with their dates, purpose and historical setting in view.
Long-term framework
Joint Strategy
The foundational document setting out the broad approach and intended scope of cooperation.
Read the strategy →Implementation period
Roadmap 2014–2017
A concluded roadmap that grouped implementation around five priority fields.
Read the roadmap →Earlier phase
Action plans
Earlier plans recorded eight areas before the later roadmap consolidated the structure.
First action plan →Second action plan →
Policy structure
From eight themes to five
The changing categories show how the framework was reorganised over time. They should not be read as a current timetable.
First action plan
Work was divided across eight themes: peace and security; governance and rights; trade and infrastructure; development goals; climate; energy; migration and employment; and science, information systems and space.
Second action plan
The eight-part structure continued while implementation experience and policy dialogue developed.
Consolidated roadmap
The framework regrouped activity into five broader priorities and proposed joint review forums involving relevant stakeholders.
Questions about this archive
Practical guidance for interpreting the cooperation pages and their linked documents.
Are these five areas a current programme?
No. They describe the structure of the concluded 2014–2017 roadmap and are retained here as historical and editorial reference.
Why preserve an older policy framework?
Older frameworks help readers trace how institutional priorities, terminology and implementation structures changed over time.
What preceded the five-area structure?
The first and second action plans used eight themes, including security, governance, trade, development, climate, energy, migration and science.
Are the linked files primary documents?
Yes. They are archived strategy, roadmap and action-plan files. Their original dates and policy status should be considered when reading them.
Where can I explore each subject?
Use the five priority links above to open the relevant thematic archive, or visit the main documents and newsroom sections for broader context.
How do I report an error in a summary?
Email the page title, supporting evidence and a concise description of the issue to the editorial contact in the footer.