Cyber and digital transition: an african way?

On 16 November 2021, the EUISS and the Africa Working Party of the Council of the EU (COAFR) held their fourteenth meeting to discuss EU engagement with African partners in the digital and cyber domains.

The meeting examined how digital transformation will shape Africa’s future and how such transition can be influenced by EU’s policies related to cybersecurity, data and internet governance, digital and human rights.

Dr Patryk Pawlak (European Union Institute for Security Studies) shared his experience of cyber diplomacy as director of the EU Cyber Direct project and co-editor of the Directions blog. In addition, he presented the key findings on digitalisation in Africa from the EUISS Chaillot paper "African Futures 2030", highlighting the main challenges laying ahead for the continent in the digital area, and the opportunities that digital transformation bring about to Africa. Dr Pawlak also provided key recommendations to improve EU’s interactions with African partners in these domains.

EUISS-COAFR meetings are coordinated and chaired by EUISS Senior Analyst Giovanni Faleg.