EU reaffirms continued support for Ethiopia’s reform undertakings

Addis Ababa, October 4, 2023 (FBC) – The EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, stated that the European Union will continue to support nationwide reform undertakings and development priorities in Ethiopia.

Jutta Urpilainen said that while discussing with Minister of Planning and Development of Ethiopia, Fitsum Aseffa.

Asserting that the European Union is a key strategic partner for Ethiopia, MoPD Minister Ms Fitsum during the discussion thanked EU Commission for its cooperation and support to her country.

The Minister also briefed the EU Commissioner of the mid-term three-year investment plan and the homegrown economic reform in Ethiopia.

For her part, Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, reiterated that the European Union will continue its partnership with Ethiopia.

EU will work in cooperation with the Ethiopian government in climate change actions, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, green legacy development, environmental protection and renewable energy development, human resource development, health, good governance, peace building and democracy development, she disclosed.

Moreover, Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, who is on a working visit to Ethiopia, had a discussion with the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat in Addis Ababa. They had wide-ranging consultations regarding the strategic AU/EU partnership, ahead of a ministerial meeting in November that will evaluate concrete progress made on joint commitments since the Feb2022 AU/EU summit.

During their discussion, the diplomats posted on their social networking pages that they had a productive discussion about the work they are doing in Ethiopia. She also congratulated the AU Chairperson over the long-due African Union G20 membership.

They further exchanged views on recent geopolitical developments, including regional challenges in Africa and especially the serious situation in the Sahel. The EU Commissioner underlined that AU-EU should advance with a consistent and principled approach.

On October 6, 2023 Jutta Urpilainen alongside Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide, have jointly launched EU’s Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for the period 2024-2027.

The MIP envelop will avail €650 million in the form of grant to finance development programmes focused on the priority areas of green deal, human development and good governance and peace, which aimed at improving the living standards of all Ethiopians.

During the launching event, Ahmed Shide expressed the government of Ethiopia’s expectation that the MIP will support the government effort towards peace consolidation, macro-economic stability, recovery and reconstruction and political reforms.

The EU Commissioner also reiterated EU’s continued commitment to support the people of Ethiopia in the context of the three identified priorities, by further enhancing political and policy dialogue with the Government of Ethiopia.

Both parties also underscored the launching of the new cooperation framework, provides an opportunity to refresh and further strengthen the long-standing historic partnership between Ethiopia and the EU.