Africa Spain Summit: epicentre of Euro-African political and economic dialogue
Promoted by the Spanish Government in collaboration with the European Union and organised by One Africa Forums, the Africa Spain Summit will be held in Madrid from 6 to 8 July. This platform for action is in line with Africa's growing position as the new hub of the global economy.
In a clear commitment to cooperation at the institutional and human level, marked by uncertainty, increased migration flows and geopolitical tensions, One Africa will bring together government and institutional leaders and representatives of multilateral organisations from both continents with the aim of developing and promoting strategic links based on common interests.
The event is part of the new ‘Spain-Africa 2025-2028’ roadmap, a strategy that sets out five areas for action: strengthening, growing, connecting, protecting and living together.
Among the main participants are: José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Government of Spain; Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); Elmi Mohamud Nor Ali, Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing of Somalia; Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Vice-President of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS); Mohamed Methqal, Ambassador and Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation; Suzi Carla Barbosa, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau; Arthur Minsat, Head of the Africa, Europe and Middle East Unit at the OECD; Alicia Varela, Director General of International Trade and Investment of the Spanish Government; Mankeur Ndiaye, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal; and José Segura Clavell, Director General of Casa África.
Event programme
The Africa Spain Summit will kick off on Sunday 6 July with a welcome cocktail at the Wellington Hotel, starting at 6pm. On Monday 7, after an institutional welcome, the key points of the new joint Spain-Africa 2025-2028 project will be presented. The day will run from 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m., with three breaks for lunch and dinner.
Throughout the day, there will be a series of thematic sessions, lasting approximately an hour and a half, which will address: the political and diplomatic dimension of the partnership, with the participation of representatives from Guinea-Bissau, Somalia, Morocco and Sierra Leone; the role of African youth, employment, training and economic inclusion, with a special emphasis on the role of women; the official launch of AFRICO, a new Ibero-African network of chambers of commerce, promoted by Gran Canaria; physical and digital connectivity, logistical integration and the role of strategic ports such as Tanger Med; common challenges in security, migration and climate change, where actors such as Interpol and the IOM will present proposals; and finally, the construction of a shared future through culture, human rights and governance, in a session charged with human symbolism. The day will close with a gala dinner.
On Tuesday 8 July, there will be a change of venue. The final day, which will take place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 1.30 p.m. with a speech by José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Government of Spain. It will begin by focusing on two fundamental issues: how to ensure that the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) and the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) can coexist fairly; and which emerging African countries have the greatest potential for investment and cooperation.