As African and European leaders wrapped up the 7th AU–EU Summit this week, the final joint declaration shows welcome progress compared to previous years, but it still falls short of the bold commitments needed to match the realities facing Africa’s young people.
Across their speeches, leaders leaned into a narrative of shared prosperity, dignity and interdependence, mirroring many of the demands ONE and our youth advocates have been making for months. Leaders recognized that Africa pays far too much to borrow and that unfair credit ratings and high capital costs are blocking development. Africa’s debt stocks have more than doubled in the past decade and African countries will pay $88.7 billion in external debt service in 2025. It means fewer teachers in classrooms, fewer nurses in clinics, and roads, power lines and digital networks that never get built. In 2022, one in five developing countries paid more in debt service than they received in external financing, a crisis that could hit one in three this year. This forces governments into impossible choices: repay creditors, or invest in health, education and jobs.
Leaders also reaffirmed the need to strengthen Africa CDC, expand local manufacturing and support Universal Health Coverage. There is about a 1 in 6 chance that a pandemic similar to COVID-19 will occur within one’s lifetime; this may grow to a roughly 1 in 2 chance in the next couple of decades, due in part to climate change. If implemented, this would mean fewer vaccine shortages during crises, faster access to diagnostics and treatment, and health systems able to protect communities before emergencies become catastrophes.
On youth, the declaration recognizes the central role young people play in shaping the future of both continents. This echoes the demands of ONE’s youth advocates, who spent the past six months meeting African embassies, EU institutions and foreign ministries. An open letter gathered more than 5,600 signatures, and several of their recommendations – from fairer finance to narrative change – made it into the final text. It’s a powerful reminder that youth voices can shift high-level diplomacy.
But important gaps remain. The declaration offers no concrete improvements to youth mobility schemes, and does not address the high visa refusal rates faced by young Africans. It does not protect funding for global health and education, nor does it commit to fully financing the Global Fund, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance or Africa CDC. Just last week, at the Global Fund replenishment, the European Commission did not announce a pledge for the next funding cycle, despite the urgent need to protect HIV, TB and malaria programs already disrupted by ODA cuts. The EU must commit at least €800 million before the February Board Meeting to enable the Global Fund to allocate resources on time and avoid treatment interruptions.
The Summit may have ended, but its follow-up is only beginning. The AU and EU will now draft a joint implementation plan in the next six months. This is where commitments become action, or fade into background noise. ONE will stay engaged at every step, pushing to close the gaps, strengthen what has been achieved, and continue ensuring that young people across Africa and Europe help shape the partnership meant to shape their future.