EU to disburse over €138m to support Somalia’s political and economic reforms

The European Union (EU) has pledged that they will disburse close to 140 million Euros to support Somalia’s economic and political reforms. In a statement, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said the funds will also be used to enhance the country’s efforts to overcome challenges caused by the climate change.

The statement noted the 27-member continental bloc remained committed to offer direct support to the increasingly vulnerable population of Ethiopia with individual measures implemented outside the structures of the Government of Ethiopia and is finalizing a first set of individual measures worth €81.5 million to support the population’s basic needs in education and health.

The EU will also disburse €13.5 million in budget support to sustain Somalia’s political momentum to engage in reforms as well as a €125 million package for 2022 in order to support state-building, economic reforms and resilience and climate change actions.

The statement reads in part that the EU is stepping its support to the regional initiative, Somalia and the people of Ethiopia. By connecting countries together and the region to the world to narrow political tensions, achieve economic integration, and sustainable development, the Horn of Africa initiative is a perfect example of delivering tangibly on the EU AU Summit outcomes and a demonstration of the Global Gateway strategy in action.