1. How would you describe the current state of relations between South Africa and the European Union?
It is unprecedented. Since 2007, South Africa is the European Union’s only strategic partner on the African continent and, recently, it is gaining in strength and depth. Our leaders meet regularly, our economic ties are stronger than ever, and we share a strong commitment to democracy, human rights, multilateralism and the respect for the international rules-based order.
As President Ramaphosa said when he thanked the EU for its full support for South Africa’s G20 Presidency last year: “This is a mature relationship that is predictable, that is reliable, and that is based on trust.”
The strength of our partnership lies in the fact that it is built on shared values, common interests and mutual benefit. The European Union and South Africa converge on our commitment to open dialogue and global cooperation to address the common challenges of our time, from climate change to inequalities. We work together to grow our economies, make them more competitive and create jobs, while at the same time greening our societies and making them more just.
And this will continue. As President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said at the EU-South Africa Summit last year “we know that others are withdrawing. So here, we want to be very clear with our message. We are doubling down on our support. We are here to stay”.
2. The European Union is South Africa’s biggest trade and investment partner. What does this mean for South Africa?
It means sustainability, local value addition and beneficiation. That we are the partner of reference for positioning South Africa as an “investment destination of choice”, as President Ramaphosa mentioned at the recent 6th South Africa Investment Conference in Johannesburg on 31 March this year. That the President singled out the strong partnership of South Africa with the European Union at the conference speaks to the strong and healthy economic ties between us.
These are not just abstract concepts. It has tangible results. It means that over 1,700 European companies are currently registered in South Africa, sustaining 500,000 direct local jobs and more than 1.3 million indirect local jobs. They come with a commitment to high standards for environment, governance, and labour rights. Also, and contrary to other major trade partners, up to 70% of South African exports to the EU are manufactured and semi-manufactured products, ranging from cars to foodstuffs. This strong partnership on trade and investment includes the transfer of technology, investment in skills, and creating lasting growth.
All this is underpinned by the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement concluded in 2016. This agreement ensures stability and provides for duty- and quota-free export of 98% of goods from South Africa to the European Union.
And this partnership is only growing. Last year, our Presidents announced three new policy and financial partnerships to ramp up trade and investment in clean supply chains. President Ramaphosa spoke about the “unprecedented nature of the agreements signed” and highlighted that never before have two partners agreed not only to extract minerals and raw materials but to have them processed at the point of extraction, add value and support South Africa move up the value chain of beneficiation.
First, in November last year we signed the first-ever Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP). This will facilitate investments in clean supply chains such as renewables, clean fuel, transmission, minerals or climate adaptation and mitigation technologies. On 3 March, we held the first Business-to-Government (B2G) Dialogue to gather inputs from EU and South African businesses on what they need concretely to unlock further investments into clean value chains. In the second quarter of 2026, we will organise the first Government-to-Government dialogue on CTIP implementation, to jointly address the concrete inputs and asks brought forward by our businesses.
Second, we launched a Global Gateway Team Europe Investment Package of ZAR 224 billion in support of the Just Energy Transition and across other areas such as connectivity, sustainable infrastructure and pharmaceuticals.
Third, we signed a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable minerals and metals. Aligning with the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, it sets out the EU and South Africa’s joint commitment to develop resilient, transparent and sustainable value chains in areas such as geological knowledge, responsible exploration and mining, ESG standards, skills and technology transfer, and the development of downstream processing and recycling.
Taken together, these landmark agreements send a clear message that Europe is a stable, reliable, and long-term partner for South Africa’s growth.
3. Which European Union Member States are currently the leading investors in South Africa, and in which sectors are these investments concentrated?
We work in a Team Europe spirit, not least with our investments through Global Gateway, with focus on vaccines, the just energy transition, as well as transport and digital connectivity.
The European Union and our Member States are collectively the largest foreign investor in South Africa, accounting for 43% of the total foreign direct investment stocks. Leading investors among our Member States are Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in sectors such as automotive and manufacturing, renewable energy and financial services.
4. What do you see as the key opportunities and challenges in the partnership?
As President von der Leyen focused on at the African Union-European Union Summit last year in Luanda, our world has changed profoundly. Global trade is more politicised than ever. Tariffs and trade barriers are being wielded aggressively. Export controls have become a tool to damage competitors and extract concessions. Global overcapacity in certain strategic fields has reached an all-time high. This is harming industries – on both our continents. With consequences felt deep inside our societies.
In this new reality, South Africa and Europe are called to answer the very same questions. How can we create good jobs for our people, and deliver on the aspirations of our youth? How can we derisk and diversify our economies? How can we break free from unsustainable dependencies – while ensuring access to the capital, resources and technologies we need?
In our bilateral partnership, we need to maintain the momentum created in 2025 when our leaders met frequently, and we need to deliver tangible results. We will listen to businesses on how best to promote further clean trade and investment and collaborate on strengthening sustainable minerals and metals value chains.
Local beneficiation is key, together with diversification of supply chains, reduction of dependencies and the pursuit of strategic autonomy.
Within complex geopolitical dynamics, I believe that a key challenge for our partnership is how best to pursue our common interest in protecting a rules-based international order as well as to promote democracy and human rights. Together, we need to make sure that might does not become right, that the UN Charter is upheld and that multilateralism is sustained.
5. What role does people-to-people connections play between South Africa and the European Union?
The European Union’s strong and strategic partnership with South Africa spans many dimensions: political, economic and trade, science, technology and innovation, education and culture. Each of these pillars is essential. But culture holds a special place, because it speaks directly to people—it builds understanding, trust, and a shared sense of possibility.
This is why cultural diplomacy is a core part of the European Union’s engagement globally, and particularly in Africa.
I am particularly proud of the Erasmus+ programme, which makes it possible for around 800 South African students every year to study in over 300 European universities. About as many European students come to South African universities annually.
Also, hundreds of South African scientists and innovators benefit from our partnerships and funding. South Africa is the EU’s biggest partner on research and innovation in Africa, and it is the first among African countries in participating in the Horizon Europe programme.
Our Spaces of Culture programme just launched its second call for proposals, which will support seven new Africa-Europe cultural relations projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Across Africa, the creative sector is growing rapidly. It is creating jobs, driving innovation, and offering new opportunities for young people. The European Union is committed to supporting this growth, including in emerging fields such as immersive technologies.
Through our partnerships, funding instruments, and networks, we aim to help create the conditions in which African creative talent can thrive—locally, regionally, and globally.
This includes supporting skills development, facilitating access to markets, and encouraging co-production models that are both ambitious and sustainable.
Lastly, let me highlight the yearly European Film Festival in South Africa. This year is the 13th edition to South Africa, with screenings in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and beyond, as well as online. Stay tuned at eurofilmfest.co.za.
6. How do you envision South Africa-European Union cooperation evolving over the next decade, particularly in light of global economic and geopolitical shifts?
President von der Leyen recently stated that we will always defend and uphold the rules-based system that we helped to build with our allies, but we can no longer rely on it as the only way to defend our interests or assume its rules will shelter us from the complex threats that we face.
So we need to build our own European path and find new ways of cooperating with partners.
We have everything to gain from further developing and deepening our partnership with South Africa, as a new model for strategic partnerships.
A model founded on shared values and interests. One that takes trust and respect as the point of departure. That delivers mutual benefits and positive changes in people’s lives.
