European Strategic Initiative - ESI

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European Strategic Initiative - ESI

ESI is a Brussels-based platform for strategic dialogue and influence, operating upstream of decision-making.

It structures targeted exchanges between institutions, decision-makers and key stakeholders to foster alignment and durable partnerships.

10/04/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 — 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐨-𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

As part of a broader engagement in Brussels with a Malian economic delegation facilitated by European Strategic Initiative (ESI), a series of targeted B2B exchanges were organised with Belgian private sector actors.

These interactions aimed at fostering concrete business linkages, exploring partnership opportunities, and providing direct exposure to European industrial ecosystems.

A notable example was the meeting and site visit organised with Belgabroed Group, in the presence of Stefan Van Meirhaeghe, Managing Director of Incubel.

This exchange provided valuable insights into:
• the structuring of integrated poultry value chains;
• industrial-scale production of day-old chicks and hatching eggs;
• export-oriented agri-business models and logistics.

Such engagements illustrate the importance of connecting entrepreneurial dynamics with operational expertise, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and agro-industry, where scalable and transferable models can support local value creation.

European Strategic Initiative contributes to these dynamics by facilitating structured engagement between African and European economic actors.

09/04/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 — 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

A meeting was held at the European External Action Service (EEAS) as part of the engagement in Brussels with a Malian economic delegation.

The meeting brought together representatives from key European actors, reflecting both the level and diversity of engagement, including:
• João Cravinho, EU Special Representative for the Sahel;
• Jolita Pons, Head of Division West Africa, EEAS;
• Maria Pilar Palomero Vaquero, Head of Unit Western Africa, DG INTPA.

Discussions highlighted a shared understanding of the current moment as a turning point in the relationship between the European Union and Sahel countries, calling for renewed efforts to identify pathways for constructive engagement.

Particular attention was given to:
• the need to improve the quality of dialogue between partners;
• the importance of business-level interactions as a driver of cooperation;
• the role of entrepreneurs as key actors of stability and prosperity;
• how European frameworks can better support and accompany economic actors on the ground.

The exchanges also underlined that developments in the Sahel will have direct implications for Europe, reinforcing the importance of sustained and pragmatic engagement.

Such interactions confirm the role of Brussels as a key platform for dialogue between African priorities and European institutional and financial tools.

European Strategic Initiative contributes to these dynamics by facilitating dialogue and engagement between African and European stakeholders.

08/04/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 — 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬

A dedicated exchange took place at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the engagement in Brussels with a Malian economic delegation.

The meeting was held with Ambassador Sibille de Cartier, Special Envoy for the Sahel, as well as Martin Biernaux, Adviser at the Belgian Ministry.

Discussions provided an opportunity to address regional dynamics in the Sahel, with a particular focus on Mali, as well as the conditions for maintaining constructive engagement in a complex and evolving context.

This exchange illustrates the importance of pragmatic and structured dialogue formats, enabling connections between economic initiatives and institutional frameworks.

European Strategic Initiative contributes to these dynamics by facilitating dialogue and engagement between African and European stakeholders.

07/04/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 — 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

In a complex and evolving regional context, European Strategic Initiative (ESI) organised and facilitated the visit of a Malian economic delegation to Brussels, bringing together entrepreneurs and business actors engaged in developing their activities.

Over the course of several working sequences, the delegation engaged across institutional and economic levels in Belgium and at the European level.

This initiative aimed to:
• foster direct exchanges with European counterparts;
• explore concrete opportunities for cooperation and investment;
• contribute to maintaining pragmatic economic dialogue channels between partners.

Beyond the meetings themselves, this initiative reflects a broader approach:
structuring meaningful and operational formats of engagement between African and European actors — including in complex environments.

European Strategic Initiative continues to support these dynamics by facilitating dialogue, connections and actionable pathways between public and private stakeholders.

23/03/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 — 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜-𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 🇧🇮

European Strategic Initiative (ESI) took part in a high-level roundtable organised by the Embassy of Burundi in Brussels, focusing on strengthening agricultural value chains through public-private partnership models.

The discussion highlighted key priorities, including the structuring of bankable projects, the mobilisation of European financing instruments, and the role of public-private partnerships in supporting agricultural transformation.

Such initiatives underline the importance of aligning African priorities with European financial and institutional tools, and confirm the role of Brussels as a strategic platform for Africa–Europe engagement.

13/03/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐱𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬 — 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞́ 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐞

Cette semaine, à l’invitation d’Enabel, European Strategic Initiative (ESI) a pris part à une table ronde consacrée aux liens entre mobilité humaine et développement économique régional en Afrique de l’Ouest.

Cette rencontre s’inscrivait dans le cadre du programme PEM N’Zassa, une plateforme de dialogue multi-acteurs entre la Côte d’Ivoire et la Belgique, réunissant une délégation ivoirienne composée d’acteurs institutionnels et de la société civile, ainsi que plusieurs agences de coopération européennes.

Les échanges ont porté sur plusieurs enjeux clés :
• la mobilité entrepreneuriale ;
• l’engagement économique des diasporas ;
• les dynamiques de mobilité professionnelle et humaine.

Ces discussions font également écho aux initiatives menées dans ce domaine, notamment à travers le programme MIGRET, dédié à la réintégration durable des personnes migrantes de retour.

Cette plateforme de dialogue illustre l’importance d’une approche multi-acteurs associant institutions publiques, agences de coopération, acteurs économiques et diasporas, afin de mieux articuler mobilité humaine et développement économique.

European Strategic Initiative contribue à ces dynamiques en favorisant des espaces de dialogue et d’engagement entre acteurs africains et européens.

10/03/2026

𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐣𝐚𝐧 — 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

A partnership agreement was signed in Abidjan between the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Côte d'Ivoire(CCI-CI) and European Strategic Initiative (ESI).

The agreement was formalised by Mr Touré Faman Officiel , President of CCI-CI, and Mr Grégory Jullien, President of ESI, following discussions with the President and his team.

This partnership aims to strengthen economic dialogue and cooperation between the Ivorian business ecosystem and European actors, particularly in areas related to investment, entrepreneurship and economic exchanges.

ESI will contribute to the development of this partnership by facilitating connections and engagement with relevant European actors.

09/03/2026

𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐣𝐚𝐧 — 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞, 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚

As part of its working mission in Côte d’Ivoire, European Strategic Initiative (ESI) was received at the Sénat Côte d'Ivoire by a delegation led by Mr Alain Acakpo-Addra, Deputy Secretary General of the Senate, for an exchange on the institution’s role in territorial governance, diaspora engagement and parliamentary diplomacy.

The discussions highlighted the Senate’s determination to further activate its specific institutional prerogatives, notably its role in representing territorial collectivities and engaging with the Ivorian diaspora.

These missions are closely connected to key policy priorities including decentralisation, productive diaspora investment, and strengthened territorial cooperation.

The exchange also addressed the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening engagement between African and European institutions, particularly on issues related to territorial development, diaspora engagement and economic cooperation.

ESI thanks Sénat Côte d'Ivoire for the quality and forward-looking nature of the discussions.

06/03/2026

𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐣𝐚𝐧 — 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

European Strategic Initiative (ESI) was received in Abidjan by Ms Solange Amichia, Director General of the CEPICI Officiel - Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d’Ivoire.

As the government agency responsible for promoting and facilitating investment, CEPICI plays a central role in Côte d’Ivoire’s economic strategy, supporting investors, facilitating business establishment and contributing to the continuous improvement of the country’s business environment.

The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange on Côte d’Ivoire’s investment dynamics, the country’s economic priorities and the prospects for strengthening interactions between the Ivorian economic ecosystem and European actors.

The meeting also highlighted the strong leadership and dynamism of Ms Amichia in promoting Côte d’Ivoire as a leading investment destination in West Africa.

ESI thanks the Director General for the quality of the discussions.

20/10/2025

🇲🇱🇪🇺 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚–𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡

A resounding success for LIL OG’s concert, co-organized by European Strategic Initiative (ESI) and ADIME (Association pour le Développement et l’Insertion des Maliens de l’Extérieur), as part of Mali’s 2025 Year of Culture.

Covered today by the Malian press, this event perfectly reflects our mission: to strengthen Africa–Europe dialogue, among other things, through culture, creativity, and youth engagement, while maintaining and fostering ongoing cooperation between our continents.

For ESI, culture is more than artistic expression — it is a bridge between peoples, a driver of unity and shared development.

We remain committed to building stronger synergies, particularly with the Sahel countries, including Mali, to support initiatives that inspire, connect, and sustain long-term cooperation.

👏 Congratulations to LIL OG, our partners, and everyone who made this celebration such a success!

15/10/2025

🎶 𝐄𝐒𝐈 𝐜𝐨-𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐈𝐋 𝐎𝐆 — 𝐚 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚–𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞! 🌍

European Strategic Initiative (ESI) is proud to partner with ADIME – the Association for the Development and Integration of Malians Abroad to support the European tour of young Malian artist LIL OG, a true rising star of the African urban music scene.

🎤 LIL OG, the new voice of Mali and the Sahel, embodies a generation of talented artists who are proud of their roots and open to the world.
His music, blending African rhythms with contemporary urban influences, builds bridges between cultures and carries a powerful message of creativity, pride and openness.

🌍 Held as part of 2025, the Year of Culture in Mali, this tour goes far beyond an artistic project:
it showcases the cultural vitality of the country, the strength of its diaspora, and a shared commitment to strengthening ties between Africa and Europe through culture.

🤝 For ESI, supporting this initiative is an affirmation that culture and youth are powerful drivers of rapprochement between our continents.
Through concrete actions and partnerships such as this one, ESI promotes a dialogue built on creativity, trust and mutual respect, in pursuit of sustainable and inclusive development.

🎵 This October, LIL OG’s European tour will resonate with the energy of a modern, inspiring and forward-looking Mali — a symbol of an Africa on the move and a Europe open to cultural dialogue.

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Brussels

Website

https://strategic-initiative.eu/

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