Brussels, 15/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and Ethiopia took a further step in their strategic partnership on Thursday 14 January on the occasion of the visit to the European institutions in Brussels of Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Adhanom agreed to step up bilateral cooperation in tackling irregular migration, in line with the EU-Ethiopia Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM) signed on 11 November (see EUROPE 11429). The EU will continue to support Ethiopia's effort in hosting 700,000 refugees. Ethiopia is playing a crucial role in the Horn of Africa in terms peace and security. The EU will also continue to support Ethiopia through its development cooperation programmes and its humanitarian aid and will organise an EU-Ethiopia Business Forum this year.
In discussions, the EU stressed the importance of ensuring the political freedom and freedom of association in Ethiopia. Adhanom also met EU Commissioners Neven Mimica (Development), Christos Stylianides (Humanitarian Aid), Dimitris Avramopoulos (Migration), and Vice-President Jyrki Katainen's team, as well as members of the European Parliament. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)