EU International Partnerships Commissioner Síkela's Speech on the cooperation agreement between the European Commission & CAF

President Motsepe, dear Ambassador Eichhorst, esteemed guests,Let me begin with two numbers. The median age in Europe is over 40. In Africa, it is below 20. Simply put, Africa is the youngest continent — full of energy, talent, and ambition. And we believe it is full of potential. Together — Europe and Africa — we must do our best to turn this potential into real opportunity. That is exactly what our Global Gateway strategy is about: Together with our partners, we are investing in people, mutual connections, and sustainable, inclusive development. That is why the European Commission is proud to become an Official Partner of the Confederation of African Football for the next three years. Europe is already Africa’s number one partner. Together, we are creating new opportunities and hundreds of thousands of quality jobs across the continent. The partnership with CAF that we celebrate today highlights the depth of our cooperation, and supports the federation´s work to transform the talent and determination of Africa’s youth into better future. In both Europe and Africa, the unifying power of football is unparalleled — just like its reach, with nearly two billion viewers of the Africa Cup of Nations worldwide. Combined with the European Union’s Global Gateway investment strategy, this partnership will show the concrete benefits and opportunities that deeper ties between and Europe unlock. To strengthen the impact of this cooperation, we will focus in particular on the CAF African...