This was the first discussion in the three-part EPC-MEDAM event series on EU-Africa relations. Against the background of the recently published New Pact on Migration and Asylum and the postponed EU-AU Summit, speakers discussed the role and potential of legal labour migration to Europe in future cooperation arrangements. Matthias Lücke (MEDAM) asked what the EU could do to create more positive conditionalities vis-à-vis its partners in the context of the New Pact, and what role labour pathways could play in strengthening this broader partnership.  Sabelo Mbokazi (African Union Commission) argued that the EU and Africa should prioritise expanding labour migration due to Africa’s high youth unemployment rate, the low quality of jobs, environmental change, and political conflict in some regions. Amanda Bisong (ECDPM), meanwhile, emphasised the need for EU member states to create opportunities for low-skilled labour migration, noting the insufficiency of EU frameworks. Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Alexandra Sa Carvalho referred to successful previous pilot projects on legal migration launched by member states. She noted that, as part of the New Pact, talent partnerships will be developed and existing legal migration frameworks reviewed with the aim of expanding them to lower skilled workers.