Europe & Africa: Shaping a New Dialogue

Lessons from Morocco: a Blueprint for Future EU-Global South Relations?

What does the future hold for EU-Africa cooperation? Are we witnessing a true partnership of equals or simply old patterns dressed in new language? In this new podcast series by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Europe and Africa: Shaping a New Era of Dialogue, we explore the evolving relationship between the two continents at a time of shifting global power balances. Building on extensive field research and local engagement, each episode delves into the key drivers of change and the challenges ahead for an equal and sustainable partnership. In this third episode, hosted by Filippo Simonelli, Researcher in the Italian Foreign Policy Programme at IAI, the focus shifts on Morocco. The country, a self-defined “Switzerland of Africa”, is trying to build a solid commercial partnership with Europe thanks to its internal stability and stable economic growth. Yet, international tensions from time to time with countries such as Spain, along with never resolved issues such as the Western Sahara conflict, risk to undermine Morocco’s international standing. Balancing these conflicting tensions is no easy feat for Moroccan authorities, but European countries and the EU are still willing to engage more and more, and companies are benefiting from international partnership projects such as the Global Gateway and the Italian Mattei Plan. The future of this partnership remains to be written at most.

Senegal’s Political Shift and the Quest for Equal Partnership

What does the future hold for EU-Africa cooperation? Are we witnessing a true partnership of equals or simply old patterns dressed in new language? Europe and Africa: Shaping a New Era of Dialogue, a podcast series by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), takes a closer look at the changing dynamics between the two continents in a shifting global landscape. Grounded in field research and local perspectives, each episode uncovers the main forces driving change and the hurdles to building a fair and SUSTAINEBLE partnership. In this second episode, Vladimir Blaiotta, Researcher in the Mediterranean Middle East and Africa program at IAI, takes us to Senegal – a key EU partner facing a political turning point. The discussion explores Senegal’s critical role in migration and regional security, its expanding ties beyond Europe, and the impact of recent political upheavals. The episode also highlights major economic projects like in the energy transition and Italy’s Mattei Plan, raising important questions about whether these efforts will foster genuine equality or simply reinvent old imbalances.

Tunisia: Migration, Energy and the EU’s Changing Approach

What does the future hold for EU-Africa cooperation? Are we witnessing a true partnership of equals or simply old patterns dressed in new language? In this new podcast series by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Europe and Africa: Shaping a New Era of Dialogue, we explore the evolving relationship between the two continents at a time of shifting global power balances. Building on extensive field research and local engagement, each episode delves into the key drivers of change and the challenges ahead for an equal and sustainable partnership. In this first episode, hosted by Akram Ezzamouri, Researcher in the Mediterranean Middle East and Africa program at IAI, the focus is on Tunisia – once a symbol of democratic promise, now increasingly shaped by authoritarian shift. The episode unpacks how EU and Italian engagement with Tunisia has evolved in recent years, particularly around migration and energy cooperation. It highlights how Tunisia’s domestic political regression has not diminished but rather reinforced its strategic relevance for the EU, especially following the July 2023 migration deal. Yet, this shift raises pressing questions about democracy, transparency, accountability and long-term sustainability. The episode also explores Tunisia’s role in Europe’s energy transition plans and Italy’s Mattei Plan, warning that without inclusive governance and public participation, the risk is replicating extractive models rather than fostering a just and equal partnership.