Departmental Papers

North Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads—geographically and economically—between Europe’s industrial demand and Africa’s demographic dynamism. In today’s rapidly shifting global landscape, North Africa has a timely opportunity to position itself as a strategic connector of continents. Geopolitical shifts and ongoing diversification efforts are creating new momentum to deepen economic linkages between North Africa, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa, build greater resilience, and foster shared growth across all three regions. Empirical evidence shows that deeper regional linkages could significantly boost trade, investment, and growth, with gains amplified by improvements in logistics, the business environment, and energy cooperation. North Africa’s energy potential—spanning hydrocarbons, solar, wind, and green hydrogen—positions the region to support Europe’s clean energy transition and sub Saharan Africa’s electricity needs, while fostering technology transfer. Realizing this potential will require coordinated reforms, upgraded infrastructure, and strong collaboration across North Africa, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa.