Young Leaders to Simulate Intercontinental Diplomacy at the AU - EU Model Summit

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mai 12, 2026 to mai 13, 2026

MEDIA ADVISORY

Young Leaders to Simulate Intercontinental Diplomacy at the AU - EU Model Summit

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHAT: AU - EU Model Summit. Under the theme "Intercontinental Youth Collaboration: Strengthening AU – EU Partnership in Peace, Climate and Economic Development," the event will see young delegates simulate high-level decision-making processes between the two continents.

WHEN and WHERE: Tuesday, 12 May – Wednesday, 13 May 2026 I Old Plenary Hall, African Union Commission (AUC) Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Opening Session: 12 May 2026 | 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Youth Declaration Signing: 13 May 2026 | 15:30 PM – 16:00 PM.

WHO: The Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) of the African Union Commission, in collaboration with Model AU – Ethiopia and the European Union Delegation to the African Union, will host the AU - EU Model Summit. Under the theme "Intercontinental Youth Collaboration: Strengthening AU – EU Partnership in Peace, Climate and Economic Development," the event will see young delegates simulate high-level decision-making processes between the two continents.

OBJECTIVES :

Policy Co-creation: Strengthen youth cooperation through the development of policy recommendations aligned with Agenda 2063.
Capacity Building: Enhance youth understanding of multilateral diplomacy, negotiation, and AU - EU governance.
Thematic Engagement: Facilitate contributions in Peace and Security, Green Transition, Digital Transformation, and Economic Development.
Diplomacy: Promote structured people-to-people and youth-to-youth diplomacy across Africa and Europe.

Background:

With Africa being the youngest continent and over 70% of its population under 35, harnessing this demographic dividend is essential for achieving Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration 6, which envisions a people-driven Africa powered by the leadership of its youth. This summit is reinforced by key AU frameworks, including Article 11 of the African Youth Charter, the 1 Million Next Level Initiative under the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD), and the AU Youth Development Toolkit. This model summit creates a structured platform for policy-oriented co-creation, positioning young people as active contributors rather than just beneficiaries. By assuming roles as Heads of State, Ministers, and Commissioners, delegates gain practical exposure to multilateral governance, negotiation, and policy drafting. The summit will culminate in a Joint Youth Declaration and specific policy recommendations in focus areas such as Climate Action, Digital Transformation, and Peace and Security.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING SESSION AND THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE YOUTH DECLARATION.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer, Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africanunion.org

Ms. Adele Onguene Atangana | Communications Associate, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: AtanganaA@AfricanUnion.org