“Il successo del riavvicinamento tra i due continenti passa dalla creazione di spazi di dialogo oltre ai canali diplomatici o economici tradizionali”

On February 2024, the Luiss Mediterranean Platform organized a conference on the future of relations between Europe and Africa, inspired by the format of a couples therapy session. This already fragile relationship has been further strained by the pandemic, disagreements over the war in Ukraine, and military coups in the Sahel. Initiatives like the Global Gateway and the Mattei Plan aim to strengthen connections between the two continents, but a true logic of cooperation is missing.

To tackle global challenges and seize new opportunities, it is essential to create an Afro-Mediterranean nexus that brings together people, ideas, and spaces. Italy, leveraging its soft power, can lead the EU towards deeper cooperation by focusing on education, skills, and knowledge diplomacy. With millions of young Africans entering the labor market each year, investing in the “human factor” is crucial for building a shared future between Europe and Africa. Cultural, academic, and innovative collaborations can be the key to strengthening dialogue and fostering a common vision.

Building on this foundation, we launched the Africa Nexus, with Giovanni Faleg, Carlo Palleschi, and Meraf Villani, dedicated to exploring the critical factors shaping the present and the future of the continent, while strengthening the links between the North and the South of the Mediterranean and Africa.

The article is available in Italian.