Africa and Europe Explore Joint AI Governance Framework

The 7th Africa-EU summit highlighted a commitment to strengthening regional innovation ecosystems, including human-centric and trustworthy AI that respects intellectual property rights. However, the summit’s declaration lacked a unified operational framework for digital cooperation or AI governance, appearing largely aspirational and omitting key AU AI and data governance frameworks. A subsequent May 2025 joint communiqué demonstrated a more ambitious approach, emphasizing alignment of AI governance frameworks based on shared values and offering direction for collaborative efforts.

A Common Ground for Joint Leadership

The EU and AU must find common ground in AI governance despite differing legal and policy contexts. The EU has introduced the AI Act, a comprehensive legal framework aimed at ensuring human-centric, trustworthy AI while safeguarding health, safety, and fundamental rights. While implementation of parts of the AI Act has been postponed, the EU’s International Digital Strategy promotes mutually beneficial AI partnerships, focusing on skills, infrastructure, and an enabling environment for innovation. The EU’s AI Continent Action Plan and Apply AI Strategy further support capacity-building and practical use cases aligned with AU development priorities.

The AU’s Continental AI Strategy provides a governance blueprint for member states, emphasizing risk management, inclusivity, human rights, gender equality, safety, and information integrity while respecting African contexts and values. This convergence creates a strong foundation for joint leadership, blending the EU’s regulatory strength with a shared focus on development. Africa should define its own AI governance agenda driven by domestic priorities, selectively adapting relevant elements to its context.

Overcoming Frictions on Data Governance and Digital Sovereignty

Effective co-creation on AI governance requires addressing past tensions surrounding data governance and digital sovereignty. European companies prioritizing GDPR compliance over domestic laws have bypassed emerging African data protection frameworks. While the EU promotes cross-border data flows under strong data protection standards, many African states emphasize data sovereignty to retain local control over data for economic and security reasons. Ethical AI governance is increasingly framed as central to building digital sovereignty, ensuring regulatory frameworks reflect African values and support just and equitable growth.

To avoid repeating past mistakes, co-creation must move beyond a ‘standards-setter versus standards-taker’ dynamic. A joint framework should draw on African instruments like the AU Data Policy Framework, incorporate equitable benefit-sharing, and promote robust data governance that includes citizen and community participation, addresses structural inequalities, and tackles infrastructural, data, and skills deficits across the AI value chain.

Building a Unified Vision

The two regions should establish a shared baseline of values and a unified vision. South Africa and the AU successfully advanced the African principle of ubuntu – often translated as “I am because we are” – into the G20 leaders’ declaration. Ubuntu is viewed by experts as a foundation for authentic innovation that prioritizes solving collective human challenges. Integrating such ethical principles into a joint AU-EU framework would strengthen trust and align closely with the EU’s commitment to inclusive, values-driven global cooperation.

A joint framework should combine the EU’s regulatory experience with the AU Continental AI Strategy and be grounded in the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. This approach would ensure equality and foster fundamental rights. The partnership should establish systemic principles, including preventing ‘digital colonialism’ by supporting locally developed AI models and infrastructure, strengthening accountability through capacity building for institutions like data protection authorities, and conducting robust risk assessments, including Fundamental Rights Impact Assessments for high-risk AI systems.

EU-Africa AI Partnership in Practice

Existing initiatives and actors like D4D Hub and Team Europe Initiatives are crucial to building a joint EU-AU AI framework. Beyond strengthening the African AI ecosystem and creating opportunities for EU private sector investment, the partnership should incentivize African AI solutions to access EU markets. Regulatory sandboxes offer a practical way forward, providing safe environments to test African AI systems and demonstrate compliance with EU regulatory requirements.

The AU-EU partnership is at a critical juncture, capable of defining the future of global AI governance. By connecting the EU’s pioneering AI Act, the AU’s Continental AI Strategy, alongside values like ubuntu and global frameworks, this partnership can co-build a human-centric model for AI governance. This shared vision must not forget systemic safeguards to mitigate AI risks, prevent human rights violations, and put an end to digital exploitation, while stimulating investments and innovation across both continents.

About the Authors:

Verengai Mabika is an associate in the digital economy and governance team, a leading voice in technology policy passionate about shaping inclusive digital futures across Africa and the Global South.

Dr Melody Musoni is a policy analyst in ECDPM’s digital economy & governance team.