On Monday 25 June, the EU foreign affairs ministers adopted conclusions on the Horn of Africa – a key region for global trade, economic growth and the overall stability of the region.
The European Union will step up its cooperation with all the countries in the region in order to protect the freedom of navigation and stability of the region, the ministers announced.
The already-fragile situation in the Horn of Africa is made worse still by regional conflicts, especially the Gulf crisis and the conflict in Yemen (see other article). Indeed, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated that the diplomatic work being conducted in the Horn of Africa was "a natural extension (...) from a regional perspective of our work on Yemen today".
In their conclusions, the ministers encourage the urgent creation of regional integration for dialogue and cooperation around the Red Sea. They also confirm increased European cooperation in several areas – especially counter-terrorism, trade in counterfeit goods, human trafficking and maritime safety.
The Council pays particular attention to the situation in Somalia, which they say has long been considered as the epicentre of instability in the Horn of Africa. The ministers approve the efforts of the government, as well as those of the United Nations mission (AMISOM). They support the gradual transfer of responsibility in terms of security to the national forces.
The EU foreign affairs ministers furthermore hail the measures and reforms set up by the governments of Ethiopia and Kenya on political freedoms, and they say these initiatives should develop momentum for the region.
Ethiopia and Eritrea are also hailed for their progress in conciliating the border disagreements – especially the Ethiopian decision to fully implement the Algiers peace agreement, which includes the Commission's decision of border demarcation.
The Eritrean decision to send a delegation to Ethiopia was even described as "historical" by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. (Original version in French by Carmen García)