The EU-African Union Summit is set to be held in Brussels February 17-18, but it is expected that Covid and access to vaccines could overshadow the meeting where the EU is aiming to push its agenda to promote its Global Gateway, which promises to mobilise up to $340 billion by 2027 in support of green and digital transition around the world.

It also wants its ‘Green Deal’ to be the gold standard across environmental, climate, energy, and agriculture policy.

African leaders are said to be anxious to ensure the EU’s plans do not hit African fossil fuels and minerals exports.

Mali, which was suspended from the African Union last year, is not invited.

(The African Union, not the EU, is responsible for inviting its members to the Brussels meeting.)

Aljazeera.