EU donates Ethiopia 155 mln euro for roads construction

Oct 3, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has announced that the EC would donate 155m euros to Ethiopia for the construction of roads. He reiterated the commitment of the EU to cooperating with Ethiopia in various fields.

While conferring with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, EC President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EC would strengthen its support for Ethiopia in its efforts to realize economic development and to establish democratic system of administration.

Barroso said the EU has strong relations with Ethiopia, adding that the union is providing 155m euros for the construction of roads in the country. He indicated that the grant is the highest among the donations the EU extended to African countries.

The EC president lauded Ethiopia’s strive to establish a democratic system of administration, indicating that the EU would continue to support Ethiopia’s endeavour. He reiterated the EU’s commitment to support efforts to establish peace in the African continent.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, on his part, expressed his happiness over the involvement of the EU in east Africa and expressed his hope to further strengthen the cooperation.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the EC president, Jose Manuel Barroso, held discussions on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute, the situation in the Sudanese region of Darfur and the developments in Somalia.

(ST)