EU keen to enhance cooperation with Africa: Commissioner

Addis Ababa, October 10, 2020 (FBC) –European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management said EU is interested in strengthening cooperation with the African Union (AU) in areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster risk management.

Commissioner Janez Lenarcic’s remark came after an official visit to the Somali regional state of Ethiopia and delivering 7.5 tons of coronavirus test kits to the AU.

“It is the interest of EU to strengthen the cooperation with the AU in areas of humanitarian assistance,” the commissioner said.

Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular is affected frequently by disasters like flood, drought; and in the case of Ethiopia most recently also by severe desert locust infestation.

“We would like to set up a more structured and comprehensive cooperation with the AU in order to enhance the resilience of African society so that they would be better prepared to face disasters in the future,” he pointed out.

According to him, the delegation with EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell had a fruitful discussion about various issues of mutual interest with Ethiopian officials.

“We explored the potential for our closer cooperation,” the commissioner stated.

EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, on his part said “we want to be the best partner of Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular.”

What happens to Ethiopia is important not only to its people, but also to the whole region and the Europeans, he underscored.

Borrell stated that this is due to the reason that “Ethiopia is too big to fall. And the security and prosperity of Ethiopia has a lot of importance for us Europeans because it affects us directly.”

Besides, Ethiopia is in a way of promoting important reforms and change is always difficult as it brings uncertainty, tensions and sometimes violence.

Source ENA