Emily Jones joined a European High Level Group on Trade Policy Innovation in Helsinki (30–31 January) to discuss the future of EU-Africa relations. High Level Groups are temporary, public-private think tanks that facilitate policy initiation and reform. The meeting in Helsinki was attended by senior officials and private sector representatives from European and African countries (including Poland, Gemany, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Togo, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria).