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Europe and Africa send a strong signal together

Germany - Federal Government

Press statement by Federal Chancellor Merz ahead of the EU-Africa summit in Luanda

Before the summit meeting of the European Union and the African Union in Luanda, Federal Chancellor Merz praised the talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine. He also emphasised the EU's cooperation with Africa on issues of peace and multilateralism.

Transcript of press conference
Monday, 24 November 2025

In a press statement immediately before the start of the summit between the European Union and the African Union in Luanda, Angola, German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the ongoing talks on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. He emphasised Europe's central role in the peace process and underlined that the EU was taking responsibility and wanted to continue increasing the pressure on Russia.

With the summit approaching, Merz emphasised the close partnership with Africa - an alliance based on peace, multilateralism and cooperation between the two continents. The seventh EU-Africa Summit was not only intended to send a signal to Ukraine, but also to emphasise the importance of strong, equal cooperation between Europe and Africa.

The most important points in brief:

• War in Ukraine: With regard to the peace efforts, Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised that Kiev should not be pressured into unilateral territorial concessions. His telephone call with US President Donald Trump had shown that the USA was also open to a jointly developed peace plan, he said. Merz welcomed the talks in Geneva and the interim results achieved there. At the same time, he made it clear that Russia must also be at the negotiating table. "Ukraine can continue to rely on our support", emphasised Chancellor Merz.
• Crisis regions in Africa: One focus of the talks will be the major crises on the African continent, the Chancellor announced. With regard to Sudan, Merz called for a ceasefire: "Germany will not look away". The Sahel region has also been destabilised by extremist violence and climate change, with many people fleeing through dangerous routes. "The Sahel region needs our joint attention to combat the causes of conflict there", said the Chancellor.
• Africa in focus: Federal Chancellor Merz sees Africa as a continent of opportunity. He pointed out the importance of trade relations between the EU and Africa and said that cooperation is in the interest of both parties. Merz emphasised that Germany has supported the pan-African free trade area since the beginning and is its largest donor: "This project is challenging, but it's worth it."
• International cooperation: Europe and Africa together had more than 40 per cent of the votes in the United Nations, explained the Chancellor. Better international representation of Africa is a prerequisite for using this power more effectively. This is why Germany supports the call for two permanent African seats on the UN Security Council. "When decisions are made about crises in Africa, Africa must be at the table", emphasised Merz.

The summits between the European Union and the African Union have been a central instrument of cooperation between the two continents since 2000. The EU is Africa's most important trading partner and largest investor, while Africa, with its rapidly growing economies, is seen as a continent of opportunity.