The strengthening of EU support for the Ethiopian government's reform programme and the country's economic development was at the heart of talks on Thursday 24 January in Brussels between the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed (see EUROPE 12140).
Mr Abiy Ahmed also met with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica. On this occasion, three aid programmes totalling €130 million were signed between the Commissioner and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu Negewo. The objective is to promote growth and job creation in this Horn of Africa country.
The first programme (€50 million) will support job creation, the second (€35 million) access to sustainable energy and the third (€45 million) the establishment of agro-industrial centres in the country. In a press release, the Commission states that this financial support is part of the Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and Investment (see EUROPE 12162, 12146). This should create up to 10 million jobs in Africa, according to the European Commission. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)