Ethiopia also asserts the need for respectful dialogue and cooperation with the EU
Addis Ababa (May 13, 2024): The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces possible visa restrictions in retaliation to EU actions.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mr Nebiyu Tedla expressed Ethiopia’s desire for the EU to rescind its Visa restrictions, warning of reciprocal actions if necessary.
As response to EU’s Visa restrictions , Addis Ababa has threatened to implement similar measures if the EU does not reconsider its stance, according to East Leigh Voice.
Diplomatic row
The spokesperson highlighted Ethiopia’s commitment to diplomatic relations while expressing disagreement with the EU’s visa policy.
The EU’s decision stems from concerns over the repatriation of Ethiopian refugees who have sought asylum in Europe.
Despite repeated requests for cooperation from Ethiopian authorities, the response has been deemed insufficient, prompting the EU’s visa-tightening measures.
Tensions between Ethiopia and the European Union have reached new levels following the EU’s recent decision to tighten visa issuance procedures for Ethiopians.
Nebiyu clarified that the visa changes are not a blanket ban, but rather adjustments aimed at streamlining the application process.
However, he criticised the EU’s approach as inappropriate, highlighting Ethiopia’s position on the dignified and safe repatriation of its citizens.
Efforts to address the repatriation issue include discussions on establishing a national committee to facilitate returns from European countries.
Investigation activities have been conducted in several EU member states to verify the citizenship of individuals identified for repatriation.
Challenges arise in confirming citizenship due to shared cultural, linguistic, and religious characteristics among individuals from the Horn of Africa region.
While the process is ongoing, only a fraction of those identified as Ethiopians by the EU have been confirmed as such.
Despite these efforts, tensions persist, with Ethiopia asserting the need for respectful dialogue and cooperation from the EU.
EU and Ethiopia Relations
According to the Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia , the relations between the EU and Ethiopia are founded on the Cotonou Agreement, its Articles 8 to 13 define the bilateral political dialogue between the two parties, as well as in a set of other conventions and political commitments.
The EU and Ethiopia look back on 42 years of constructive bilateral relations in areas as diverse as development cooperation, trade and economic development, consolidation of democratic institutions, regional peace and security and migration
. Ethiopia is one of the EU’s important partners on the African continent, active in regional peace and security as well as on thematic international debates such as climate change.
Sustainable development is a prerequisite for poverty eradication, social development and the creation of an inclusive, strong and diversified economy.
The EU and Ethiopia engage to support and reinforce mechanisms aimed to promote decent work and the economic and social integration of vulnerable populations, paying particular attention to situations of extreme poverty and social exclusion.
The two sides also look at ways of maximising the social and economic impact of development cooperation while ensuring sustainability, including through improved alignment of EU donors with the Growth and Transformation Plan II and Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy Strategy.
The EU works with Ethiopia to exchange information and best practice on issues related to education, vocational education and training and capacity building.
The EU Delegation works to facilitate the participation of greater numbers of Ethiopian students, university staff and researchers through Erasmus+ and Marie Skลodowska-Curie Actions, and to continue to work on the mutual recognition of academic degrees.
The EU and Ethiopia promote the importance of science and technology, research and development, information communication technology and the transfer of know-how as a basis for sustainable development.
The EU works to help create a strong economy that rests on its functional and structural diversification, the improvement of productivity and competitiveness, the promotion of Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), an enhanced qualification of the human capital and a well-trained labour force who has the skills that are required on the labour market.
The EU and Ethiopia also work together on private sector development and the improvement of the business climate.