Energy is at the heart of development: It is the foundation not only of economic growth through powering production facilities and transport, but also for a modern household with decent, healthy cooking and cooling facilities for food storage, for powering drinking water supply, for modern schools and institutions of higher education, for communal services and health centres, and last not least for political participation through modern communication and information technology.

Africa and Europe have embarked on a common voyage, to meet the energy challenge hand in hand. Thus, African and European Heads of State agreed in Lisbon in December 2007 to launch the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP), as one of the eight strategic partnerships comprising the Africa-EU Joint Strategy. It is a long-term framework for political dialogue and cooperation between Africa and the EU on energy issues of strategic importance, reflecting African and European needs.

The AEEP has set the high target of improving the living conditions of millions now and in the future through more effective provision of better, more efficient and more sustainable energy services.
Austria and Germany on the European side and the African Union Commission and Mauritius on the African side co-chair the AEEP.

High Level Meeting

To strengthen the existing Africa-EU dialogue it has been agreed by the African Union Commission and the European Commission to organize a High Level Africa-EU Ministerial Energy Meeting (HLM) every two years.

Representing the AEEP, the Republic of Austria and the Republic of Mauritius extend an invitation to the first High Level Meeting of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) to be held in Vienna on 20-21 April 2010.

Global Forum on Sustainable Energy

The High Level Meeting will be immediately followed, on 22 April 2010, by a meeting of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy, which will take up the key issues discussed at the High Level Meeting. It will be an opportunity for the African and European spectrum of experts and key players to discuss and further develop challenges and possible solutions within the context of sustainable energy services on the two continents.