4th Ethiopia-EU joint working group meeting on migration held in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, November 19, 2024 (FBC) – The 4th Ethiopia-EU Joint Working Group meeting on migration was held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to engaging productively with the European Union, which he described as an important strategic partner.

Ambassador Mesganu highlighted that migration is an equally sensitive political issue for Ethiopia, a country that serves as a source, transit, and destination for migrants. He noted the government’s concerted efforts to tackle the root causes of migration, including its focus on addressing challenges such as human trafficking.

The State Minister also underscored Ethiopia’s active involvement in bilateral and multilateral initiatives to manage migration and its collaborative efforts with neighboring countries and international partners to combat the challenges associated with migration.

On the occasion, Ambassador Mesganu acknowledged the strengthened cooperation between the two sides in implementing the Readmission Procedure. Highlighting Ethiopia’s demonstrated political and operational commitment in this regard, he urged the EU to reconsider its approach of imposing punitive measures.

In this context, the State Minister called on the EU to take practical steps toward lifting the visa restrictions imposed on Ethiopians.