Ethiopia and the European Union signed a new partnership agreement on the sidelines of the Global Gateway Forum held from October 9-10 in Brussels, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two sides. The agreement, signed by President Taye Atske-Selassie and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirms the shared commitment to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and sustainable development.
In his remarks, President Taye described the occasion as a milestone in the enduring partnership between Ethiopia and the European Union. He noted that since the signing of the 2016 Joint Declaration on a Strategic Engagement, cooperation between Ethiopia and the EU has gained new momentum, evolving from traditional development assistance into a more strategic and results-oriented framework.
The President underlined that the Global Gateway’s priority areas of renewable energy, digital transformation, and sustainable infrastructure are closely aligned with Ethiopia’s national development strategy. He identified three key areas for future collaboration: establishing a Joint Africa Technology Innovation Platform, including regional centers of excellence in green energy and digital services to accelerate knowledge transfer; launching a Value Chain Integration Initiative to strengthen industrial linkages and competitiveness; and expanding cooperation in sustainable infrastructure and digital connectivity to support inclusive growth.
President Taye reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to working closely with the European Union to build a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking partnership that delivers tangible benefits for both sides.
The European Union announced a €105 million support package to advance land governance, nature preservation, migration management, and women’s economic empowerment, as well as refugee resilience and reintegration. The new partnership will further promote investment in clean energy, digital transformation, agri-food value chains, and health systems under the Global Gateway framework.
At the Forum, discussions focused on boosting economic investment through Global Gateway, particularly in the areas of digitalization, renewable energy, agri-food systems, and health.
During the Forum, President Taye also held a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, where both sides emphasized the importance of advancing a strong trade and investment agenda. The EU expressed its readiness to support Ethiopia’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms and its efforts to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development.
President Taye further met with Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission. Their discussions covered a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including the need to scale up Ethiopia–EU cooperation and to strengthen peace and security in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Ethiopia and the European Union continue to work together to promote long-term stability and inclusive growth. Through the Global Gateway initiative, both sides are investing in renewable energy, digitalization, sustainable agri-food systems, transport, and human development.
The Global Gateway represents the EU’s positive offer to foster smart, clean, and secure connections in the digital, energy, and transport sectors, while strengthening health, education, and research systems. The Forum brings together leaders from the European Union and across the world, alongside the private sector, civil society, financial institutions, and international organizations, to promote sustainable investment and shared prosperity worldwide.