Patricia Llombart Cussac, EU managing director for Africa, addressed the ARDA Talk in Addis Ababa, stressing stronger EU-Africa ties through dialogue, development, and stability. She assumed her role on September 1 and chose Addis Ababa for her first visit. The speech precedes the 7th AU-EU Summit in Luanda, marking 25 years of partnership.
Patricia Llombart Cussac, managing director for Africa at the European External Action Service (EEAS), delivered her speech at the ARDA Talk hosted by the Institute of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa. She began by thanking the institute for the opportunity. Over the past 25 years, the AU-EU partnership has deepened and expanded, she noted, with trade exceeding EUR 366 billion in 2023.
Ahead of the 7th AU-EU Summit in Luanda, she reaffirmed commitments to three pillars: peace and security, prosperity, and multilateralism. The Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package mobilizes at least EUR 150 billion in sustainable investments, with over half of flagship projects in Africa, covering renewable energy, vaccine production, agriculture, and trade corridors. The Africa-Europe Green Energy Initiative aims to deliver 50 gigawatts of renewable power and connect 100 million people to electricity by 2030.
The EU supports the African Continental Free Trade Area with over EUR 1.2 billion to boost trade and regional value chains. In peace and security, it has provided more than EUR 1 billion since 2021 via the European Peace Facility and deployed 11 missions across Africa. In the Horn of Africa, challenges include the Sudan conflict, Al Shabab attacks in Somalia, and Houthi threats to the Red Sea, which carries 10% of EU trade. She stressed the need for dialogue, drawing from Europe's post-World War II experience.
Ethiopia has played a stabilizing role, with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement ending a two-year conflict with the TPLF three years ago, brokered by the AU. The EU supports its implementation through humanitarian aid, development, and reintegration programs. Marking 50 years of EU-Ethiopia relations, the EU committed EUR 345 million since 2023 for energy, agribusiness, digitalization, health, and training. It backs the 2026 elections for inclusivity and media freedom.
Recent energy initiatives include the 100 MW Danish Assela Wind Farm and the RISED program under Global Gateway. On the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the EU advocates dialogue among Nile Basin states for cooperation and stability.