Summits of African and European heads of state and government have served as periodic points for assessing cooperation, reviewing implementation and providing political direction.
The fifth summit took place in Abidjan on 29 and 30 August 2017, a decade after the adoption of the joint strategy that then framed relations between the two regions. Its central theme focused on investment in young people and a sustainable future.
Participating leaders adopted a declaration that organised future work around education and skills, institutional resilience and governance, migration and mobility, and investment for structural and sustainable transformation. They also issued a statement concerning migrants and refugees in Libya, rejecting abuse by criminal groups and calling attention to protection needs.
The summit followed a series of preparatory meetings involving civil society, local and regional authorities, economic and social participants, parliamentary representatives, young leaders and business communities. These forums supplied recommendations and declarations for consideration in the wider process.
