“Looking forward to support GTP”

By Yemane Nagish

The European Union delegation to Ethiopia expressed intentions to expand its political engagements in the country. The union also noted that it is assessing the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), the ambitious Plan of the Ethiopian government, and looking ways of supporting it.

On the occasion of the Europe Day to me marked on Monday, May 9, the Union held a press briefing yesterday at the headquarters of the delegation in Addis Ababa. Ambassador Xavier Marchal, delegation head in Ethiopia explained the Union’s and its member states’ political and economic relationships with Ethiopia, focusing on his current meetings held with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Highlighting that the European Union is the most important partner of Ethiopia, Marchal said that donors support through over one billion Euro per year. He further asserted that the EU member states have discussed with Meles on issues ranging form current political environment of the country to the GTP.

As to the head, according to the three pillars of the bilateral relationships – namely political, economic cooperation and trade – they reached an agreement to expand the political engagements as per Art. 8 of the Cotonuo trade agreement, allowing the EU to pursue political dialogue with African – Caribbean Partnership (ACP-EU) countries, including Ethiopia.

“We will have a number of additional meetings [with the PM] to discus specific issues of interest in different domains, whether they are governmental or non-governmental,” the head noted.

Comparing the Union’s previous engagements with the government with the current one, Marchal noted “Before, we used to meeting the PM twice a year. Now we will still be meeting, but we will also go into more details to specific meetings and specific actors.”

He said the Union has plans to reach political and civil organizations unilaterally. Nevertheless, the official asserted that the union has no plans to engage in bringing the opposition the government together for political dialogues.

The head also said that the member states have discussed with Meles about the Plan. “We openly discussed the … GTP. It is legitimate. Of course we are all assessing it and looking forward to supporting it. And the EU is aiming at better communicating its response”, he noted. But the official reserved to speak of any specific decisions reached by the Union and member donors to support the Plan.

Ambassador Koen Varvaek, head of the EU delegation to the African Union, on his part highlighted the importance of the relationship existing between the EU and AU. He acknowledged that Africa is following a similar process of integration that Europe has succeeded in attaining.

With regard to new agreements reached between the two Unions, he said “We have discussed what we want to do together and particularly what Africa wants to do.”

Recognizing what AU is doing to tackle African problems, he praised that Africa has been an important global player when speaking as one voice on issues like climate change, having Meles as its spokesperson and “Making a difference.”

EthiopianReporter