In 2007, the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) was adopted at the Lisbon Summit, which brought together the Leaders of 27 European and 54 African States as well as the Presidents of the continental Institutions.

The purpose of the Joint Strategy is to take the Africa-EU Partnership to a new strategic level with a strengthened political dialogue and enhanced cooperation at all levels. The JAES reflects the Euro-African consensus on values, joint interests and common strategic objectives.

The Joint Africa-EU Strategy, which provides the overarching long-term framework for Africa-EU relations, is implemented through jointly identified priorities, which are of common interest to both the EU and Africa, and significantly impact on the daily lives of citizens on both continents. Within each area of cooperation, the focus is on actions at the global, continental or cross regional levels and in which participating actors have a collective capacity to deliver.

It strives to bring Africa and Europe closer together through the strengthening of economic cooperation and the promotion of sustainable development, with both continents living side by side in peace, security, democracy, prosperity, solidarity and human dignity.