Ethiopia and the European Union Forge €650 Million Pact to Aid Post-War Recovery and Reform Efforts.
The European Union and Ethiopia have inked a significant cooperation agreement valued at 650 million euros ($680 million). EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, made the announcement during a joint press conference held with Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Side in Addis Ababa.
Urpilainen emphasized the importance of gradually restoring relations and fostering a mutually beneficial partnership with Ethiopia following the ceasefire that ended the war last November. This aid package is regarded as the initial tangible step in that direction.
Originally valued at 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion) for the period from 2021 to 2027, the EU aid package was temporarily halted due to the conflict in the Tigray region in late 2020. Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed expressed how this aid would play a crucial role in the nation’s post-war recovery and in implementing essential economic reforms during this pivotal period.
However, it’s worth noting that direct financial support to Ethiopia’s government will remain suspended until specific political prerequisites are met. Additionally, the International Monetary Fund’s program is seen as a prerequisite for the resumption of direct financial support.
While the Tigray war caused substantial devastation and human suffering, the EU has long insisted on accountability for the atrocities committed before normalizing relations with Ethiopia.
Ethiopia has initiated its own transitional justice process, though human rights experts have raised concerns about its effectiveness. The EU is committed to supporting the peace agreement through a national dialogue, accountability measures, and transitional justice.
Notably, the United Nations investigation has revealed abuses by all sides, some of which could be considered war crimes. Independent investigations into Ethiopia’s dire human rights situation are being advocated for due to the risk of further atrocities.
The EU’s aid commitment comes on the eve of the deadline for renewing the mandate for the investigation at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Human Rights Watch has urged the EU to submit a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council calling for ongoing investigations into these atrocities. Failure to do so would be seen as a renunciation of its own commitments, the rights group emphasized.