Ethiopia Says EU “Undermines” Its Sovereignty in Nile Dispute With Egypt  

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has dismissed a recent joint statement issued by Egypt along with the European Union (EU), terming it “problematic and deeply disappointing" in what signals endless wrangles between Addis Ababa and Cairo.

Ethiopia said the statement “echoes Egypt’s colonial and monopolistic claims over the Nile River” and “shows a complete disregard for the views and interests of other riparian countries.”

“It is important to remember that the River Nile has eleven riparian countries,” the embassy noted, adding that the statement “negates the rights, aspirations and very existence of nearly half a billion people in these Sub-Saharan African countries," Addis Standard reports.

Egyptian authorities are fighting with Ethiopia over the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Cairo says would affect the downstream flow of the Nile River water, thus impacting negatively on millions of people relying on the river from Sudan to Egypt.

“We will collaborate on water-related issues at bilateral, regional, and international levels, including in line with the Joint Declaration on an Egypt–EU Water Partnership (EEWP). Recognizing Egypt’s heavy reliance on the Nile River in a context of its water scarcity, the EU reiterates its support to Egypt’s water security and the compliance with international law, including concerning the Ethiopian Dam," read the joint statement.

"The EU strongly encourages transboundary cooperation among riparian countries based on the principles of prior notification, cooperation, and ‘do not harm’.”

The Ethiopian expressed regret that “the EU decided to undermine Ethiopia in a bilateral platform with Egypt,” describing the joint statement as one that “propagates inaccurate, biased, and hostile positions against Ethiopia” and as being “contrary to the quality of the historic relations that exist between Ethiopia and Europe.”

According to the statement, the EU’s stance disregards well-established principles of international water law, including equitable and reasonable utilization, a cornerstone of transboundary resource management. The embassy said it was “deplorable” that the EU, a continent with extensive experience in shared water governance, adopted what it called a “distorted take on international law.”

GAROWE ONLINE