The President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, as the current Chairperson of the African Union, and the Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Sebastian Kurz, as Austria holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, cordially invite African and European heads of state or government, CEOs of major global companies as well as innovative entrepreneurs and stakeholders to the High‑Level Forum Africa‑Europe.

2017 saw the approval of ten new grant operations, in support of seven different projects, for a total amount of EUR 73.6 million. The large majority, i.e. nine grants worth EUR 64.2 million, went to the energy sector and one grant, for EUR 9.4 million, for a project in the transport sector. More than half of the 2017 approvals, in terms of amount (EUR 43.6 million), support the investment phase of projects.

The Commission has allocated additional €50 million to the Sahel region and €8 million to the Central African Republic to address the increasing food, nutrition and emergency needs in the countries. For 2018, the EU's total humanitarian response to the Sahel countries now stands at €270 million and €25.4 million for the Central African Republic.

On 15th October 2018, the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement – AFD) announced the third edition of its Digital Challenge, which promotes the work of entrepreneurs involved in the African digital revolution.

''I will start my report from the European Council with Brexit. Last Wednesday evening, leaders listened to Prime Minister May’s views on the negotiations. [...]Leaders also held a short debate on external relations, including on the fight against climate change ahead of COP 24 in Katowice. We adopted conclusions on taking our relations with Africa to a new level — an issue of great importance.''

Carlos Lopes, the Post Cotonou representative for the African Union shares his thoughts on migration: ''The current debate surrounding migration has become both emotional and irrational. In ageing countries there is a permeating belief that the movement of migrant populations around the world will have a negative effect. The financial cost of accepting and integrating migrants is one of the most frequently used arguments in order to justify limiting their numbers, including for legal immigration.''

The European Union (EU) has welcomed the ‘Ghana beyond aid’ agenda with a pledge to offer the needed financial and technical support to help translate the initiative into reality. This was disclosed by the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Ghana, H.E. Diana Acconcia when she met the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Wednesday October 17, 2018.

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini met on 17 October with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to discuss the shared engagement and joint work of the EU and the Foundation in support of human development in Africa in particular, including by accelerating digital development. The EU and Mr. Gates also signed an agreement to create a joint fund to invest €100 million in European companies working to stop climate change.

For the first time since 2012, the EU’s aid spending decreased in 2017. This means, at the current rate of growth, the EU would need another 40 years to meet the 0.7% ODA/GNI target, reveals CONCORD AidWatch Report 2018. While the EU remains the world’s largest aid donor, EU aid decreased by 4% compared to 2016 and inflated aid still represented 19% of the total EU aid budget in 2017.

Today (18/10/2018), the Chamber of Representatives approved an amendment of the legal framework in which the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) operates. The amendment is the final element of a thorough reform of BIO. This reform makes the investment company better embedded in the Belgian development policy, strengthens the link with the private sector, and increases the impact of the development initiatives in Belgium’s partner countries.