Who we are
Information about the Delegation of the European Union to African Union.
The role of the EU Delegation
The role of the EU Delegation to the African Union
Symbolising the strategic and continuously growing partnership between the African Union and the European Union, the EU is one of the few diplomatic entities to have a dedicated mission to the AU in Addis Ababa since 2008. The overall purpose of the EU Delegation to the AU is to contribute to enhancing the unique and diverse Partnership that exists between both Unions. Over 50 staff operate in an environment that includes the AU Commission, 55 AU Member States, other regional and pan-African organisations. The EU Delegation is also accredited to the UN Economic Organisation for Africa. Also, 21 EU Member States are represented in Addis Ababa and accredited to the AU and UNECA.
The Delegation deals with a wide range of topics, including both dialogue on political issues of mutual concern and interest with AU and broader interlocutors on the continent, as well as longer-term cooperation and institution building.
The Joint Africa-EU Strategy
The origins of the EU-AU strategic partnership date back from 2007 and have been updated on a regular basis since. The Joint Africa-EU Strategy, adopted at the Lisbon Summit in 2007, constitutes the overarching long-term framework for Africa-EU relations. EU-Africa Summits in Tripoli (2010), Brussels (2014) and Abidjan (2017) refined the Partnership's Strategy, taking into consideration changes and emerging priorities on both continents.
More recently, in February 2022, Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the African Union and the European Union together with leadership of EU and AU Institutions met for the sixth European Union - African Union summit in Brussels and adopted A Joint Vision 2030.
Two Unions, a joint vision
The Joint Vision for 2030 projects a common future, as closest partners and neighbours and defines a renewed Partnership for solidarity, security, peace and sustainable development and prosperity; for current and future generations, bringing together our people, regions and organisations.
The Global Gateway (European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world) Investment Package symbolises this partnership. Through a 'Team Europe approach', Global Gateway will bring together the EU, its Member States and their financial and development institutions to mobilise the private sector to leverage investments for a transformational impact. Please visit the dedicated Global Gateway page for more information.
The Joint Vision promotes common priorities, shared values, and international law, and preserve interests and common public goods. This includes the protection of human rights for all, gender equality and women's empowerment in all spheres of life, the rule of law, actions to preserve the climate, environment and biodiversity, but also sustainable and inclusive economic growth and the fight against inequalities.
European Union and African Union leaders and Member States also reiterated their commitment to multilateralism. The EU and the AU will work together to promote effective multilateralism within the rules-based international order, with the UN at its core.
While HoSG set the strategic orientation for the partnership between our two Unions, multiple dialogues and cooperation activities define its implementation. This occurs for instance in the framework of diverse forums, such as regular EU-AU Ministerial meetings (3rd Meeting: 20 November 2023), sectoral ministerial and senior official meetings, specific dialogues on peace and security (PSC to PSC meetings) and Human Rights between senior officials and experts emanating from both institutions (the 18th Dialogue occurred in Brussels in May 2022).
For more information on the main areas of cooperation between the EU and AU, see the page "Relations with the EU".
The Delegation to the African Union
H.E. Javier NIÑO PÉREZ
Javier.NINO-PEREZ@eeas.europa.eu
Ambassador
Delegation of the European Union to the African Union
Karin B.STANGHED
Deputy Head of Delegation
Fernando SOUTO
Regional Security Officer (RSO)
Political, Press and Information Section
Pascal DELISLE
Head of Section
Alessandra BUDELLO
Alessandra.BUDELLO@eeas.europa.eu
Team Leader, Deputy Head of Section
Rita FORTUNATO BAPTISTA
Rita.FORTUNATO-BAPTISTA@eeas.europa.eu
Political Officer
Katharina ROITHNER
Katharina.ROITHNER@eeas.europa.eu
Political Officer
Adina SIRBU
Political Officer
Andre SCHOOFS
Peace and Security Advisor
Biruk FELEKE
Press & Information
Leelna Getachew FETANU
Leelna-Getachew.FETANU@eeas.europa.eu
Secretary
Intern
Cooperation Section
Gianluca AZZONI
Gianluca.AZZONI@eeas.europa.eu
Head of Cooperation
Laurent BOCHEREAU
Laurent.bochereau@eeas.europa.eu
Advisor to the HoP & Coop on Research, Science and Innovation
Matthias REUSING
Matthias.REUSING@eeas.europa.eu
Adviser to the Head of Coop on Agricultural, Environment & digital agenda
Klara KANSKA
Adviser to the Head of Coop on Trade and Economic Integration
Sosena ARAYA
Section Assistant
Meheret GEZAHEGNE
Meheret.GEZAHEGNE@eeas.europa.eu
Section Assistant
Blen ADEM BEDRU
Blen-Bedru.ADEM@eeas.europa.eu
Policy Assistant for Research and Innovation
PEACE, SECURITY, GOVERNANCE & MIGRATION TEAM
Iride BOFFARDI
Team Leader – PEACE, SECURITY, GOVERNANCE & MIGRATION TEAM
John VILLIERS
Policy & Programme Officer
Christoph PELZER
Christoph.PELZER@eeas.europa.eu
Policy & Programme Officer
Daniele TECCARELLI
Daniele.TECCARELLI@eeas.europa.eu
Policy & Programme Officer
Simona MONTANARI
Simona.MONTANARI@eeas.europa.eu
Policy & Programme Officer
Michele RIZZI
Policy & Programme Officer
Aklilu DESTA
Project Officer
INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION, GREEN AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION TEAM
Alexandre DETROUX
Alexandre.DETROUX@eeas.europa.eu
Team Leader
Emmanuel SOUBIRAN
Emmanuel.SOUBIRAN@eeas.europa.eu
Policy & Programme Officer
Sara BUZZONI
Programme and policy officer
Massimo LUCANIA
Massimo.LUCANIA@eeas.europa.eu
Programme and policy officer
Valentina ROSSI
Valentina.ROSSI@eeas.europa.eu
Policy & Programme Officer
European Parliament
Luca DI PRESO
Team leader European Parliament
Francesco FRAPICCINI
francesco.frapiccini@eeas.europa.eu
Political Officer
Irmantas SKERYS
irmantas.skerys@eeas.europa.eu
Assistant
Finance, Contracts and Audit Section
Georgios KATSOULIS
Georgios.KATSOULIS@eeas.europa.eu
Head of Section
Kristina OTTOU
Deputy Head of Section
Daniela Oana GAGU
Daniela-Oana.GAGU@eeas.europa.eu
Finance & Contracts manager
Seblewongel BELAY
Seblewongel.BELAY@eeas.europa.eu
Finance, Contracts & Audit Officer
Beminet MATHEWOS
Beminet.MATHEWOS@eeas.europa.eu
Finance, Contracts & Audit Officer
Wossen MISALIE
Finance, Contracts & Audit Officer
Zinash ZEREFA
Section Assistant
Administration Section
Hannes DECRAENE
Hannes.DECRAENE@eeas.europa.eu
Head of Administration
Luigi CANDELA
Regional IT Officer (RITO)
Mihail STAMENOV
Mihail.STAMENOV@eeas.europa.eu
Regional IT Officer (RITO)
Wubeshet TAMERAT
Wubeshet.TAMERAT@eeas.europa.eu
Protocol Affairs
Meskerem GIRMA
Administrative Assistant
Seble WORKU HAILE
Seble-Worku.HAILE@eeas.europa.eu
Budget/Accounting Assistant
Yenework KIROS HABITE
Yenework-Kiros.HABITE@eeas.europa.eu
Accounts Clerk
Matebie ALEM TIRUNEH
Matebie-Alem.TIRUNEH@eeas.europa.eu
Office Support Agent
Mesfin ABERA
Driver
Ayele ALEM
Driver
Assefa EJETA
Driver
Mathios TEGEGN
Driver