MoFA denies suspension of EU budget support to Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, December 22, 2020 (FBC) – Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti dismissed the information circulating as the European Union has suspended its budget support to Ethiopia amid law enforcement operation in Tigray as misinformation.

Ethiopia has properly utilized 95pct of the 815 Million Euro budget support it secured from the European Union for 2014-2020 budgetary period, Ambassador Dina said.

Ambassador Dina admitted that the EU has put in place some preconditions regarding the law enforcement operation Ethiopia was carrying out in northern region to disburse the remaining fund.

The precondition stipulated that International Media had to follow the situation, and demanded that the region and the federal government rebuild the infrastructure affected by the operation and independent bodies investigate the situation, the ambassador said.

“But the media have mistaken the precondition for suspension of the EU budget support to Ethiopia.” he noted.

According to Ambassador Dina Mufti, the EU has accepted Ethiopia’s law enforcement measures as legitimate.

The spokesperson further underscored that Ethiopia will continue to maintain rule of law and in the country and reinforce diplomatic efforts to preserve its position in the regional and international level.