Hello, I am Javier Niño Pérez and I am excited to be the new Ambassador of the European Union to the African Union. Africa has always been close to my heart as the place where I started my diplomatic career over 25 years ago, right after the formal establishment of the Africa-EU Partnership in Cairo. I am delighted to be back to the continent at a pivotal time for the Partnership between the EU and the AU. Africa is our closest neighbour and we share many bonds; through history but also forward-looking  Africa is the continent of the future; It not only host to the youngest, fastest growing middle-class in the world but, by the beginning of the next century, almost half of the world’s young population will be African.

Africa is Europe’s twin continent sharing not only a rich history with European countries, but also common values, interests and a vision for the future that sees continental integration at his heart. At the core of our partnership are the promotion of prosperity, peace and security and human dignity. The EU, the AU and our Member States jointly build roads and railways, promote academic and scientific exchanges, invest in health, education, energy, and support Africa’s free trade area.  We listen to each other, we respect each other and we build together.

A strong EU-Africa partnership can make a difference on the global stage, helping to achieve together a better and brighter future for the coming generations. With  AU’s membership of the G20, which we have supported from the outset we now have more international fora where we can cooperate to promote multilateralism, a rules-based international order and address challenges affecting Africa and Europe such as the triple  environmental, digital and social transitions that our societies need to undergo to build modern, green fair and  inclusive societies .

I am very proud to lead a strong and dedicated team at the EU Delegation and work side-by-side with our member states, our colleagues in Brussels and our African partners to take forward our strategic partnership.

Javier NIÑO PÉREZ

Ambassador

Delegation of the European Union to the African Union

Biography

Ambassador Niño Pérez arrived in Addis in January 2024 to take up his duties as the European Union’s Ambassador to the African Union and ECA after having been Director/Deputy Director General for the Americas at the European External Action Service since 1 June 2020.

Previously, Ambassador Niño Pérez was the Head of the United States and Canada Division (2018-2020) and the Head of the Turkey Division (2015-2018) at the EEAS Headquarters in Brussels. Prior to that, he was Head of Delegation/ EU Ambassador in Haiti (2012-2015), Head of the EU Delegation in Cuba as Chargé d'affaires (2007-2012) and Head of Political in Burkina Faso (1997-2001) and Trinidad and Tobago (2001-2202) . He has held several other positions in Brussels. He started working for the EU institutions in 1994.

Ambassador Niño Pérez holds a law degree from the University of Valladolid (Spain), an LL.M in European law from the Free University of Brussels and an MA in European studies from the College of Europe (Bruges-Belgium).

Ambassador Niño Pérez has been awarded the National Order of Burkina Faso (officer), the Grand Cross of the National Order of Honor and Merit of Haiti, the Order of San Carlos (Grand Officer) of Colombia and the Officer's Cross of the Order of Isabel the Catholic of Spain. He is a guest of honour of the municipality of Buenos Aires (Argentina).