12. “No One Should Be Left Behind”: EU and Inclusion of Civil Society in the African Continental Free Trade Area

Since its inception, the African Union (AU) has been determined to promote trade in goods and services as an impetus for the economic, social, and political integration of its member states. The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) epitomizes Africa’s endeavour to integrate its fragmented continent, small markets and economies, and feeble infrastructures in line with its Agenda 2063 in order to improve the livelihoods of its citizens. Thus, AfCFTA aimed at boosting intra-African trade through the creation of a single market with free movement of goods, services, capital, and natural persons. However, these cannot be achieved without the full involvement of ordinary citizens in AfCFTA negotiations and implementation with equal rights as stakeholders. Building on the notions of regional integration and the new regionalism approach, this chapter interrogates the contributory role of the European Union to promote the participation of ordinary African citizens in the establishment of the AfCFTA. It does so by investigating the extent to which the EU collaborates with civil society in Africa to ensure the engagement of ordinary citizens in the attainment of the AfCFTA objectives. A desktop review reveals that few attempts were made by the EU to enable African civil society to participate in the few negotiations pertaining to the establishment of the AfCFTA. Apart from its financial support to African civil society organizations, the EU also negotiates with the RECs in Africa in formal and informal settings to include ordinary citizens in their decision-making processes, including the AfCFTA. EU–African relations should be strengthened through the inclusion of ordinary citizens from both continents.