Addis Abeba – The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Brussels has expressed strong criticism of a joint statement issued by the European Union Council and Egypt on 22 October 2025, describing the EU’s position as “problematic and deeply disappointing.”

“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.”

The joint statement by the EU and Egypt reads: “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. The EU strongly encourages transboundary cooperation among riparian countries based on the principles of prior notification, cooperation, and ‘do no harm’.”

The embassy 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.”

The embassy further argued that the joint statement runs counter to key international instruments governing transboundary water cooperation, including the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), the UNECE Water Convention, and the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997).

It also said the EU’s position undermines its credibility as a proponent of a rules-based international order. The embassy emphasized that as an observer in the African Union–facilitated talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the EU had access to the perspectives of all parties and therefore “should have adopted a balanced, rational and impartial approach.”

The statement underlined that the dam referred to in the joint communiqué “has an official designation, which is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,” adding that the name carries symbolic significance “not just for Ethiopians but also for the African continent as a manifestation of self-reliance and Africa’s reawakening.”

Ethiopia, the embassy said, “looks forward to engaging the EU and its member states to rectify the gross and wrongful positions reflected in the joint statement.”

Recently it was reported that U.S. President’s Senior Adviser for African, Arab, and Middle Eastern Affairs, Massad Boulos. In an interview with Al Arabiya Arabic, said GERD dispute should be resolved technically, not politically.

The EU joint statement with Egypt Comes  amid escalated tension between Ethiopia and Egypt over the GERD. On 12 October 2025, El-Sis said, “Egypt will not stand with its hands tied in the face of the irresponsible approach by Ethiopia. It will take all necessary measures to safeguard its water interest and security.”

Earlier this month, Egypt accused Ethiopia of acting “recklessly and irresponsibly” in managing the Nile flood through unilateral dam operations, saying the moves have exacerbated flooding in Sudan and pose a direct threat to Egyptian land and lives.

Ethiopia has dismissed accusations made by the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation regarding the GERD, calling them “falsehoods” and “misrepresentations.”

In a statement on Friday, 3 October 2025, Egypt’s ministry claimed Ethiopia’s dam management “lacks the most basic principles of responsibility and transparency.” In response, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation, in a statement released today, 4 October 2025, said that “heavy rainfall in recent months would have caused historical destruction in Sudan and Egypt had the GERD not been in place.”

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation argued that regulated water flow from the dam has reduced peak flood magnitudes and minimized damage downstream.

Citing data recorded in Sudan, the statement noted that prior to the GERD, peak floods in the months of August and September often exceeded 800 million cubic meters per day. In comparison, the average daily release from the GERD in the same months this year was 154.7 million cubic meters and 472 million cubic meters, respectively. Ethiopia asserts that the GERD has significantly reduced the risk of flooding.

Source: Addis Standard