European Union in Ethiopia

EU allocates €15 million in humanitarian assistance in response to Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The European Commission is allocating an extra €15 million* in humanitarian assistance to support the response to the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The funding aims at supporting emergency operations in the affected areas as well as preparedness and prevention efforts.

Safeguarding public health remains the Commission’s absolute priority as diseases do not stop at borders and cooperation is essential.
Emergency aid for the region

Following the announcement of the outbreak by local authorities, a EU Humanitarian Air Bridge operation with UNICEF departing next week has been swiftly organised to transport nearly 100 tonnes of supplies to eastern DRC, including medicines, protective equipment, infection-control material, tents and operational equipment for frontline teams.

For 2026, the EU has allocated €101.9 million for emergency humanitarian support in the region.
Development of vaccines and treatments

This response builds on work that was already in place before the outbreak. The European Union support has helped identify the virus strain, strengthen Ebola tracking, and accelerate testing and sequencing with African partners.

In parallel, the European Union has invested €73.7 million in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to advance research for health emergencies, including on broadly protective filovirus vaccines, and €7.4 million to support clinical trial readiness for vaccines and treatments.

Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said:

‘The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda requires a rapid, coordinated and sustained international response. The European Union is mobilising humanitarian assistance and working closely with national authorities, WHO, Africa CDC and humanitarian partners to support emergency operations, strengthen preparedness and help contain the outbreak. The EU remains committed to supporting affected communities and preventing further transmission of the virus.’

Earlier this week, we officially launched the project “Enhancing the Economic and Social Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities in Ethiopia”, co-funded by the European Union and implemented together with Plan International Ethiopia, World Vision, Norwegian Refugee Council, DanChurchAid, International Rescue Committee and MTI (Medical Teams International).
The event brought together Government institutions, regional authorities, development and humanitarian partners, diplomatic actors, refugee and host community representatives to strengthen collaboration toward more inclusive, resilient and sustainable solutions.
The project supports Ethiopia’s efforts to advance refugee inclusion through improved access to services, strengthened local systems, livelihoods and economic opportunities, while promoting social cohesion and self-reliance for refugees and host communities alike.
Through strong partnerships and collective action, we continue supporting practical pathways toward resilience, dignity and shared prosperity.

🎉 Excellent News for Ethiopia and Team Europe! 🇪🇺🇪🇹

We are proud to announce that 55 Ethiopian students have been awarded the prestigious Erasmus+ Scholarship this year!

This remarkable achievement once again confirms Ethiopia’s outstanding performance in international academic excellence and mobility. For the 10th consecutive year, Ethiopia remains among the top three countries in Africa and among the top 15 countries worldwide in winning this highly competitive European Union scholarship.

This success reflects the extraordinary talent, determination, and academic potential of Ethiopian students, as well as the strong and growing partnership between Ethiopia and the European Union in higher education, youth empowerment, and international cooperation.

Congratulations to all scholarship winners and heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed to promoting Erasmus+ opportunities across the country particularly EU Member States and the Ethiopian Ministry of Education.

Together, we continue building bridges of knowledge, innovation, and global partnership.

The Autonomy-Centered Internationalization International Conference was successfully held on 19 May 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Addis Ababa, as part of the project “Supporting the Reform of Higher Education Governance in Ethiopia” (2024–2026) funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The conference was organized by the French Embassy in Ethiopia, in collaboration with France Éducation International and the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, bringing together senior officials and representatives from leading Ethiopian universities and the Education and Training Authority.

Representing the European Union, Mr. Solomon Kebede, PIO and Erasmus+ Focal Person at the EU Delegation to Ethiopia, delivered an interactive presentation on the progress of the Erasmus+ Scholarship and Higher Education Capacity Building Programme in Ethiopia.

The event provided a valuable platform for EU’s role in strengthening international cooperation and advancing higher education reform and internationalization in Ethiopia.

Council lifts restrictive visa measures concerning Ethiopia

On 18 May 2026, the Council decided to end the restrictive visa measures imposed on Ethiopia in 2024.

Council lifts restrictive visa measures concerning Ethiopia The Council had suspended certain elements of the EU visa rules in 2024.

From 13th to 15th May Wydział Kultur Azji i Afryki Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego/Faculty of Asian and African Studies, University of Warsaw organizes a conference "75 Years of 🇪🇹 Studies: Voices Beyond Language, Cultures Beyond Borders" with the participation of academics from 🇵🇱 🇪🇺& 🇪🇹, available also on-line.
https://afrykanistyka.uw.edu.pl/.../75-years-of.../

Towards a better and deeper mutual understanding!

From 13th to 15th May Wydział Kultur Azji i Afryki Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego/Faculty of Asian and African Studies, University of Warsaw organizes a conference "75 Years of 🇪🇹 Studies: Voices Beyond Language, Cultures Beyond Borders" with the participation of academics from 🇵🇱 🇪🇺 & 🇪🇹 , available also on-line.
https://afrykanistyka.uw.edu.pl/en/75-years-of-ethiopian-studies/
We wish all participants fruitful, interesting and revealing discussions!