By: Kassahun Chanie
EU Ambassadors in Ethiopia today announced that the upcoming EU-AU 2025 Summit in Angola's Luanda City will underscore the deepening partnership between the two continents, with a particular focus on shared interests and people-to-people connections.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the Residence of the EU Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sofie From-Emmesberger, the EU Ambassador to Ethiopia, highlighted the critical role of the summit in advancing cooperation and celebrating long-standing alliances.
Ambassador From-Emmesberger briefed journalists on the summit's priorities, key themes, and expectations, emphasizing the significance of this year's milestones. "This year we are celebrating mostly 50 years of EU-Ethiopia partnership and also 35 years of Africa-EU partnership," she stated, setting the stage for discussions expected to build on these foundations. The ambassador noted that the summit would largely focus on the relationship between the African Union and the European Union, reaffirming a commitment to collaborative progress.
The ambassador also recounted a "very busy year" for EU-Ethiopia relations, marked by high-level engagements. She reported that "His Excellency Ethiopian President Taye Atseke Selassie visited Brussels in early October, meeting with the leadership of the European Union and participating in a Global Gateway forum." Additionally, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister also travelled to Brussels in preparation for a ministerial meeting that took place in May. These visits underscore the extensive efforts to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors.
Beyond diplomatic exchanges, Ambassador From-Emmesberger underscored the practical cooperation flourishing between the EU and Ethiopia. She articulated shared interests in crucial areas such as "digitalization, green economy, health, agriculture, and business climates." Collaborations in these fields often involve the 22 EU member states present in Addis Ababa, demonstrating a unified approach to development and mutual growth. A cornerstone of this partnership, she added, is fostering "people-to-people contacts." Just yesterday, a two-day forum for "Study in Europe" concluded, attracting an impressive 9,000 Ethiopian students eager to explore EU scholarships and academic programs.
The Ambassador proudly noted, "For this academic year, Ethiopian students were among the top 20 globally to get this [Erasmus+] scholarship," praising the quality and skills of Ethiopian youth.
Amidst a turbulent global landscape, the upcoming EU-AU 2025 Summit in Angola's Luanda City will champion effective multilateralism, affirm a rules-based international order, and strongly back African integration under African leadership.
This crucial message was delivered today by EU-AU Ambassador Javier Nino Perez during a media briefing at the Residence of the EU Ambassador to Ethiopia.
Ambassador Perez, speaking passionately about the forthcoming summit, articulated its core message as "Stand for Africa and Europe to engage." He emphasized that Africa's burgeoning political and economic growth would be robustly supported by Europe. "Africa is growing and is willing to grow, is eager to grow more politically and economically, and Europe is certainly willing to accompany Africa in that process politically and financially," Ambassador Perez stated, highlighting the enduring nature of this partnership, which celebrates its 25th anniversary since its inception in Cairo in 2000.
Addressing journalists, Ambassador Perez outlined three "key political and simple messages" the summit aims to convey to Africans, Europeans, and the world. The first, he disclosed, is an unwavering belief in multilateralism. "The theme of the summit is precisely about effective multilateralism and how effective multilateralism can contribute to prosperity and to stability," he asserted, noting its particular importance in a world where this principle "is maybe not the flavor of the month."
He stressed that the partnership is founded on "shared values, about respect, about dialogue, and about cooperation," firmly declaring that "might is not right when it comes to international relations." We need rules. We need predictability." Ambassador Perez pointedly referenced recent global challenges.
The second pivotal message from the summit, Ambassador Perez explained, is the staunch support for African integration, driven by African leadership. While acknowledging that regional integration is a "dream" and a "difficult one, as we have learned in Europe the hard way," he insisted it is a vital pursuit. Ambassador Perez expressed particular pride in delivering this message from Ethiopia, which he described as "the seat of the African Union," recognizing its historical and ongoing significance in fostering continental unity.
He paid tribute to Emperor Haile Selassie, calling him "one of the driving forces, if not the main driving force, in establishing the Organization for African Unity." Ambassador Perez further contextualized the scale of this ambition, noting that Africa is "seven times bigger than Europe" with "twice the membership," making the continent's integration efforts truly monumental.
The seventh EU-AU Summit will commence in Luanda, Angola, on 24-25 November 2025, it was stated.
