On 19 February 2020, the Africa Transport and Connectivity Task Force delivered its final report on the state of the art in three key sectors of transport cooperation, that is aviation, road safety and connectivity.

Part of the Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs proposed by the European Commission in 2018 in order to drive forward intercontinental cooperation, the Task Force was launched in early 2019 to foster a constructive exchange of views focused on cross-border integration, sustainable development and safe mobility of goods and people. More particularly, during the meetings taking place from January to July 2019, the Task Force delivered tailor-made recommendations for the international organisations, stakeholders, financial institutions and government representatives participating.

With regard to connectivity, the report builds on the key pillars on sustainability, investment promotion and multi-modal corridor development, highlighting the need to reap the full potential of digitalisation. With regard to road safety, instead, the report mainly focuses on road crash injuries, providing thirteen concrete recommendations in five main priority areas (road safety management and data collection, infrastructure safety, vehicle safety, safety of road users and post-crash care). Finally, with regard to aviation, the report aims at promoting economic growth and fostering air mobility in Africa, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities to make this a reality. Specifically, the launch of a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) might increase connectivity, enforce social cohesion, boost the opening up of markets and enhance a sustainable development of African airlines.

Marco Stillo