EU Commits €153 Million to Strengthen Peace in Côte d'Ivoire

The European Union has pledged a grant of €153 million to Côte d'Ivoire, aimed at continuing its involvement in key areas such as peace, security, and the rule of law. 

This commitment was announced during the EU-Côte d'Ivoire Partnership Dialogue in Abidjan, according to the economic news platform "Zoom Eco."

Francesca Di Mauro, the EU Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, explained that the grant forms part of the EU's Global Europe program. This new allocation comes after the full utilization of the €228 million previously allocated to Côte d'Ivoire for the period between 2021 and 2024.

In her remarks, Di Mauro noted, "This partnership between Côte d'Ivoire and the European Union is rich and constantly expanding, covering a range of areas including diplomacy, trade, security, defense, and investments resulting from our flagship initiative, the Global Gateway strategy. This initiative blends public and private funding to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth."

The EU ambassador also commended the progress made in the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Côte d'Ivoire, highlighting that over the past decade, European imports to Côte d'Ivoire have doubled, and Ivorian exports to Europe have increased by 70%.

Di Mauro reaffirmed the EU's ambition to deepen its economic ties with Côte d'Ivoire by advancing towards a Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement, which, she believes, will make the country more attractive to European investors.