• Addis Ababa hosts EU-Africa Green Talk to highlight the vital role of Blue Economy for sustainable development and the Blueprint for Africa´s Blue Economy Strategy
  • Dialogue between African and European leaders, civil society, policy experts and business representatives confirms importance of EU-AU partnership in promoting sustainable blue economy investment across Africa

The Acting African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment and the European Union Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries today joined more than 140 policy, community and business leaders from across Africa and Europe at the Addis Ababa EU-Africa Green Talk to share blue economy best practices and outline how to enable more sustainable investment to support coastal communities.

This seminar is conducted in the framework of the EU-Africa 30 days dialogue on green transition organised under the Portugal EU Presidency.

“Strengthening partnerships, collaboration and coordination is key to the implementation of the AU Blue Economy Strategy. We also need to strengthen our national and regional institutions, maintain the political momentum and support, as we work with relevant stakeholders towards our common goal of a sustainable Blue Economy for the present and future generations.” said Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment.

“Maritime renewable energy, food from the sea, sustainable coastal and maritime tourism, the blue bio-economy and many other activities constituting the blue economy will help us come out of this crisis stronger, healthier, more resilient and more sustainable. Today’s dialogue between African and European partners will further strengthen our close cooperation to protect the jobs in the blue economy, increase the wellbeing of our coastal communities and deliver on environmental ambitions.” said Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

“The blue economy is a priority for the Portuguese EU Presidency and together with the European Investment Bank and the European Union Delegation to the African Union we are pleased to hold the Addis Ababa Green Talk to strengthen the dialogue on blue economy best practices between Africa and Europe. Sustainable investment to provide clean oceans, harness marine energy, manage fish reserves and promote tourism are key for jobs, economic growth and social progress.” said Ricardo Serrão Santos, Minister for the Sea, Government of the Portuguese Republic.

“The European Investment Bank has a unique technical, environmental and financial experience supporting sustainable investment and unlocking opportunities created by the blue economy across Africa, Europe and around the world. The Addis Ababa Green Talks bring together experts, leaders and investment partners to learn from each other and ensure that opportunities are not lost to better protect coastal regions and ensure that coastal communities thrive.” said Ricardo Mourinho Félix, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank.

The virtual dialogue, organised by the European Investment Bank Representation to Ethiopia and the African Union, the Portuguese Embassy in Ethiopia, and the European Union Delegation to the African Union is one of more than 25 events being held across Africa and Europe ahead of the High-Level EU-Africa Green Investment Forum taking place in Lisbon on 23rd April.

Background information

As the EU climate bank, the EIB is investing in the sustainable blue economy and supporting initiatives aiming at reducing pollution and preserving the oceans. Under its Blue Sustainable Ocean Strategy, the EIB committed to double its lending to sustainable ocean projects to €2.5 billion over the period 2019-2023 and expects to mobilise at least €5 billion of investments that will contribute to improve the health of the oceans and their resources.

The EIB also collaborates with European partners within the Clean Oceans Initiative, which will provide €2 billion in investment by 2023 to reduce or avoid plastics and other waste before it reaches the ocean.

More information about EIB’s activities to preserve the oceans

The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political union between 27 European countries. The EU has delivered more than half a century of peace, stability and prosperity, helped raise living standards and launched a single European currency: the euro. More than 340 million EU citizens in 19 countries now use it as their currency and enjoy its benefits. As enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, ‘the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail’.