The European Union Monday reaffirmed the 27-member bloc’s commitment to its long-standing partnership with Somalia and the willingness to deepen its strategic cooperation.
This position was expressed in a statement released by the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which is meeting in Luxembourg today.
The Council welcomed the “significant progress achieved in Somalia since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud assumed office in May 2022,” and commended the Federal Government of Somalia on its efforts to build a stable and peaceful Somalia.
The EU called for reinforced international cooperation, partnerships and coordination under Somali initiative and leadership, to support the development of a safe and stable Somalia.
Regional cooperation and support from Somalia’s neighboring countries is pivotal for stability in the region, it stressed.
The EU, however, expressed “extreme alarm” by the deepening humanitarian crisis in the country caused by the prolonged drought, protracted conflict and displacement, and reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing humanitarian assistance The statement noted that the EU is the main long-term partner of Somalia with significant contributions amounting to over 4.3 billion euro (USD 4.6 billion) since 2009.
Source: Kuwait News Agency