EU ‘not satisfied’ with Ethiopian unilateral decisions on Nile dam
The EU has offered its expertise to help resolve the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) impasse after the bloc’s member countries expressed dissatisfaction at unilateral decisions taken by Ethiopia in relation to the project, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has revealed.
He said that the EU was ready to step in and mediate between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to reach an agreement over the operation of the dam.
The huge construction project on the Blue Nile is 80 percent complete and the dam was expected to reach full generating capacity in 2023.
Shoukry said European foreign ministers were now fully up to speed on the issue.
The Ethiopian government claims the dam is crucial to the country’s economic development and energy provision, but Egypt views it as a threat to its Nile water supplies, on which it is almost entirely dependent.
Sudan has expressed concerns about the dam’s safety and impact on its own dams and water stations.
Shoukry said the EU was keen to work with the three nations and present them with its proposals to resolve the issue, adding that in the event of a consensus among UN member countries on a draft resolution submitted by Egypt and Sudan, it would be put to a UN Security Council vote.
The Egyptian minister noted that he asked the EU foreign ministers to understand the nature of the issue for Egypt and to work on persuading Ethiopia to show flexibility.
Shoukry said: “We are following up on the proposals that will be presented by the African Union, and I asked the European side to understand that the Nile River water is an existential issue for Egypt.”