As the European Union and the African Union prepare to meet in Luanda, a clear political message is needed: the relationship between the two continents is no longer merely diplomatic, it is strategic. The President of the European Commission reiterated this point, emphasizing that the first regional plan developed within the framework of the Global Gateway investment strategy is the Africa-Europe plan, with more than 150 billion euros dedicated to infrastructure, skills, digital and energy transition.
Le Luanda summit This initiative is fully aligned with this dynamic. It aims to reaffirm that Africa is a key partner in building a more stable, equitable, and sustainable international order. Security, governance, digital transition, mobility, investment, and human development: these themes are no longer solely matters of cooperation, but of co-creation. They recognize Africa's growing role in global balances and Europe's commitment to a long-term partnership.
The Luanda meeting thus marks a decisive step: it unites European political ambition, which aims to structure strong alliances in an increasingly fragmented world, and African expectations for a partnership based on trust, reciprocity, and territorial impact. In this tense geopolitical context, peace appears to be not merely a diplomatic objective but an essential condition for any lasting progress.
This vision resonates particularly strongly within the network of Rural Family HomesFor over sixty years, the MFRs have been developing active partnerships with numerous African countries, in conjunction with French Regions and local authorities. This long-standing international presence reflects a strong conviction: cooperation is built first and foremost within local communities, between stakeholders who share concrete challenges, similar social realities, and the common ambition of offering opportunities to young people.
These partnerships, driven by teaching staff, young people, and administrators alike, fully reflect the priorities of the Luanda Summit. They demonstrate that it is possible to create a grassroots diplomacy based on encounters, reciprocity, the sharing of best practices, and the development of joint projects. They also show that rural areas, often perceived as removed from international debates, can be key players in EU-Africa cooperation.
At the heart of these dynamics, young people play a vital role. Their recent mobilization around the theme of peace, presented at the European Parliament Last spring, they highlighted their ability to think about peace in a holistic way: personal, relational, and collective peace. This approach usefully complements broad policy guidelines: it reminds us that peace is built through educational pathways, mobility experiences, intercultural encounters, and social engagement. In other words: in the very places where the MFRs operate.
The guidelines put forward by the EU-AU summit remind us how much lasting peace depends on a set of complementary factors: human development, quality of governance, mobility, economic cooperation, but also the capacity of societies to strengthen dialogue, mutual understanding and the stability of their territories.
The work carried out by young rural people within the framework of the advocacy The ideas presented in Strasbourg resonate particularly strongly with these ambitions. Their approach, which links personal balance, relationships with others, and responsibility towards the world, underscores the importance of peace being built on multiple levels: in individual journeys, in collective dynamics, and in partnerships between territories. This vision usefully complements the political objectives set in Luanda, demonstrating that the challenges of stability and cooperation also find their foundations in training, education, and the active participation of young people.
In this sense, the reflections of these young people align with the major priorities of the Africa-Europe partnership: building cooperation based on trust, encouraging local initiatives, and fostering positive prospects for future generations. They remind us that, beyond diplomatic decisions, educational and civic pathways also contribute to consolidating a space of peace and shared development between the two continents.
