Message from Amb. Sofie From-Emmesberger on the occasion of Ethiopia's New Year!!
Dear Ethiopian friends,
As Ethiopia welcomes the New Year and celebrates the beginning of 2019 in the Ethiopian calendar, I would like, on behalf of the European Union, to extend my warmest wishes to the people of Ethiopia for a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful year ahead.
For the European Union and Ethiopia, we are closing 2018 on a positive note, following a year marked by significant progress and achievements. These include several fruitful high-level engagements and visits, the restoration of standard visa procedures, the resumption of EU Budget Support, and the successful EU-Ethiopia Business Forum.
As we begin 2019, the European Union remains committed to supporting Ethiopia’s efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive economic development, its green energy initiatives, and digitalisation. As well as creating more opportunities for young people and strengthening health systems. Through all our cooperation, we aim towards a more prosperous future, especially under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
In Ethiopia as elsewhere in the world, peace and security are essential foundations for development and prosperity. They are the conditions through which Ethiopia can unlock its full potential. The European Union firmly believes that sustainable peace can only be achieved through inclusive political dialogue, reconciliation, and engagement. At a time when the Horn of Africa faces complex challenges, dialogue and cooperation remain indispensable tools for building trust, preventing conflict, and securing a more peaceful future for all.
Greater mobility and stronger people-to-people connections between Ethiopia and Europe will also open further opportunities for business, education, cultural exchange, and cooperation. I look forward to continuing to strengthen these people-to-people ties. I am particularly pleased to congratulate the 55 outstanding Ethiopian students who have been awarded full Erasmus+ scholarships. These young women and men represent the future of Ethiopia and a lasting bridge between our two peoples. Through education, knowledge and international exchange, they will gain skills and experiences that can contribute to Ethiopia’s future development.
As we celebrate Ethiopian New Year and look to the future, let us renew our commitment to dialogue over division, and cooperation over confrontation. The European Union remains a strong, trusted and committed partner for Ethiopia, and I eagerly await the positive developments that 2019 will doubtless bring to Ethiopia, and to our common aims.
