“Chapeau, and congratulations" EU Commissioner for partnerships on Morocco’s AFCON hosting

EU Commissioner for Partnerships Jozef Síkela said the European Union’s new partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is designed to reach broader audiences in Africa, especially young people, while promoting European values and development goals.

In an interview with Hespress EN, Síkela praised Morocco’s organization of the CAF event, saying the country’s ability to host major global competitions reflects its maturity and capacity.

“Chapeau. And congratulations,” he said, highlighting Morocco’s infrastructure and preparation. He added that the event’s global reach, with millions of viewers, underscores Morocco’s growing role on the world stage.

Síkela framed the CAF partnership as more than a sports collaboration, describing it as a communication bridge that goes beyond football. He said Europe has long been a major partner and investor in Africa, but that the depth of this relationship is not widely understood.

The Commissioner said the partnership offers a platform to engage young people and to share Europe’s commitment to sustainable development and equal cooperation. He pointed to the inclusion of school championships, involving more than 30,000 schools and one million children, as an effort to promote health, teamwork and fair play.

He also emphasized the importance of legal protection for young athletes, particularly those who may pursue professional careers abroad. “This is about European values and investment in human centric development,” Síkela said, adding that sports and culture can help bridge continents and generations.

Síkela also praised Morocco’s national team for reaching the CAF final and wished them success, expressing hope that he would return to Rabat after the match.

When asked how EU legislation affects partnerships with Morocco and other African countries, Síkela framed the issue around climate responsibility and global equity. He said the EU remains the largest investor in climate action worldwide and remains committed to the Paris Agreement, even as the commitment of major polluters declines.

“Africa is basically a continent contributing with a very small portion to global climate change, but bearing a big portion of the consequences,” he said, noting that some African countries spend more than 10% of their GDP addressing immediate climate damages.

In response, the EU is working to protect European businesses from unfair competition as they invest in sustainable production and move toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Síkela acknowledged the EU’s bureaucracy and complexity but said reforms are underway to make investments more accessible, faster and more transparent.

Despite these challenges, he emphasized the shared destiny of Africa and Europe, driven by geographic proximity and mutual dependence. Africa’s rapid population and economic growth, he warned, must be matched by job creation and infrastructure development.

“We will see within five years, 50 up to 60 million young African people joining the labor market,” he said, framing sustainable industrialization and local value creation as essential to preventing instability and migration.

Síkela added that investment must extend beyond infrastructure to include education and healthcare, which he described as foundational to long-term stability and development.