H.E. Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, held discussions with Mr. Koen Doens, Director-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) of the European Commission, on the sidelines of the 120th Session of the OACPS Council of Ministers on 12 December 2025.

The meeting focused on revitalizing the Ethiopia–EU partnership, with emphasis on investment, migration, and peace and security.

H.E. the State Minister highlighted the strong record of cooperation between Ethiopia and the EU and emphasized the Government’s expectation that the European Commission resume budget support, following the lead of several EU Member States. She reaffirmed Ethiopia’s readiness to work closely with the Commission to fulfill the necessary requirements.

She also underscored the importance of scaling up investment flows under the Global Gateway Initiative, particularly promoting private sector engagement in key areas such as energy, agro-processing and agricultural value chains, and infrastructure development, noting Ethiopia’s continued efforts to improve the business environment and investment climate.

Mr. Koen Doens emphasized Ethiopia’s substantial potential for investment and its central role in regional peace and security. He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to deepening cooperation based on an equal and mutually beneficial partnership and expressed readiness to strengthen collaboration.

Both sides exchanged views on regional peace and economic development and reiterated their commitment to continued engagement.

In a separate meeting, H.E. Semereta Sewasew met with Ms. Andrea Koulaimah, Director for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

Discussions addressed the effects of declining support to humanitarian and social protection programs, the effectiveness of decentralized humanitarian operations, modalities for delivering assistance, the humanitarian–development nexus, and the importance of preventing overlaps between humanitarian and social protection interventions. The two sides also discussed challenges related to the administration of tax waivers for humanitarian activities.

H.E. the State Minister expressed appreciation for the EU’s continued support to humanitarian operations. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation and jointly address existing challenges.