The European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen is set to visit Ethiopia and the African Union Commission (AUC) on Monday.
On 14 October 2024, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen will visit Ethiopia and the African Union Commission (AUC). “The visit is aimed at reaffirming the two Unions’ shared commitment to sustainable prosperity, promote effective multilateralism, peace and security, and to take stock of progress made under the European Union (EU) Global Gateway strategy,” AUC said in a press statement.
This visit to Addis Ababa celebrates the deliverables of the strong cooperation between the African and European Unions, in line with the Joint Vision for 2030 adopted at the last Summit held in Brussels on 17 and 18 February 2022. The EU Commissioner will take advantage of her presence in Ethiopia and also engage with the Government of Ethiopia on issues of mutual interest, notably to discuss the Global Gateway, and interact with the private sector.
The European Commissioner will be accompanied by Rita Laranjinha, EEAS Managing Director for Africa, Domenico Rosa, DG INTPA Head of Unit for Strategic Partnerships with Africa and OACPS, Javier Niño Pérez, EU Ambassador for the African Union, and Sofie From-Emmesberger, EU Ambassador to Ethiopia.
It is stated that during the visit, the Commissioner will hold bilateral meetings with Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), and Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
European Commissioner Urpilainen visit holds the first edition of the EU-AU High Level Dialogue on Economic Integration and Trade with Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, followed by the presentation of a Team Europe Initiative on economic integration towards the African Continental Free Trade area (AfCFTA).
She will present with AUDA NEPAD CEO, Nardos Bekele Thomas a joint report on the implementation of Global Gateway commitments adopted at the 6th EU-AU Summit in 2022 and the launch of the AU-EU Youth Lab program.
The program of the Commissioner also includes a step forward for the AUC component of the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa, in connection to the 2024 AU theme of the year “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century”, the Administrative Arrangement establishing a framework for staff exchange and administrative cooperation with the African Union Commission and the Administrative Arrangement with AUDA NEPAD.