Support for the Horn of Africa, one of the regions of Africa most vulnerable to famine and malnutrition, was the focus of attention of foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday 20 June, as they exchanged views on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the most vulnerable countries (see other news).
The ministers also discussed the situation in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan one year after the adoption of the EU’s integrated strategy for the Horn of Africa (see EUROPE 12717/3).
€600 million of emergency response to the food crisis have been committed by the EU to this region, which was already suffering from hunger and malnutrition before the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, recalled the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
With regard to Ethiopia, the ministers noted some progress with the ceasefire, but not enough to normalise relations between the EU and the country. “Normalisation will be based on a transitional and transactional approach based on humanitarian access to vulnerable populations in need in Tigray and other regions, restoration of basic services in Tigray and lifting of fertiliser restrictions”, the High Representative said.
In Somalia, the momentum generated by the elections will need to be harnessed. The EU supports economic and security reforms and will work for transition, according to Mr Borrell.
In Sudan, “the transition, which was one of the most promising some time ago, is failing, despite our support”, the High Representative regretted. The EU will join the efforts led by the UN, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)