Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Thursday, November 27, 2025, the Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation, Mr. Adolphe BUKURU, officially launched the international conference on Regional and Continental Integration of the AfriquEurope project, held at the Zion Hotel in Bujumbura.
In his speech, Mr. Adolphe BUKURU, on the behalf of the Government of the Republic of Burundi, welcomed all participants to this distinguished conference. He expressed his gratitude to Jean Monnet Centre of the European Union, which is funding the AfriquEurope project and made it possible to organize this conference here in Bujumbura, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Burundi, through Bujumbura International University. He emphasized that the Government of the Republic of Burundi values the diplomatic and cooperative relations between the European Union and the African Union through complementary pillars, namely: political, economic, and commercial.
The Assistant to the Minister emphasized that the vision of the AfriquEurope project is to establish an academic and research network aimed at developing collaborative research on contemporary issues concerning the relations between the African Union and the European Union. The project seeks to promote the role of African and European universities in the construction of knowledge and to organize conferences and workshops on themes whose outcomes will inform public policy proposals, as
well as an education that is well understood, managed, and tailored to the objectives and needs of the population.
Africa needs reforms in its educational system, requiring competent and growing education. This system demands coordination and the exchange of knowledge between Africa and Europe, the coordination of educational policies at the regional level, and the strengthening of cooperation among member states. Mr. Adolphe BUKURU indicated that today, the Government recognizes the importance of regional and continental integration in its various aspects. He emphasized that it cannot lag behind in this contemporary journey, adding that there is no future for the world without a future for Africa, as by 2050, the African population is expected to reach 2.5 billion, half of whom will be under 14 years old. Hence, it is crucial for Africa to be an irreplaceable partner for Europe. Furthermore, the European Union significantly contributes to stability in the Great Lakes region, thanks to its strategy and within the framework of the East African Community.
The Assistant to the Minister specified that the education promoted by Burundi is one of quality, aimed at improving academic achievements and skills, and developing opportunities for young Africans to break the cycle of poverty and build more peaceful societies. He concluded his speech by wishing once again good success to this session and to all participants.
