Ethiopia condemns EU–Egypt joint statement on Nile River as “biased and deplorable”

The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Brussels has condemned a joint statement issued by the European Union (EU) Council and Egypt on October 22, 2025, describing it as “biased, problematic, and deeply disappointing.”

In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the Ethiopian Embassy said the joint communiqué “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.”

The statement noted that the Nile River is shared by 11 riparian states, stressing that the EU’s position overlooks “the rights, aspirations, and livelihoods of nearly half a billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa” who depend on the river for survival.

“It is regrettable that the EU decided to undermine Ethiopia in a bilateral platform with Egypt,” the Embassy said. “The Joint Statement propagates inaccurate, biased, and hostile positions against Ethiopia, contrary to the quality of the historic relations between Ethiopia and Europe.”

The Embassy further accused the EU of misinterpreting international law, arguing that the joint statement contradicts well-established legal principles under 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).

Ethiopia maintained that the EU’s stance disregards core tenets of international water law, particularly the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization, and “undermines the EU’s credibility” as a supposed advocate for a rules-based international order.

The Embassy also noted that the EU has been an observer in the African Union–facilitated negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and was therefore fully aware of the perspectives of all parties involved. “A balanced, rational, and impartial approach should have been taken,” the statement stressed.

The condemnation followed the EU–Egypt Joint Statement issued at the EU–Egypt Summit in Brussels on October 22, 2025. The joint communiqué reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to peace, stability, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development, while outlining deeper cooperation in political, economic, environmental, and security fields.

However, point 16 of the statement drew Ethiopia’s ire. It highlighted the EU’s recognition of Egypt’s heavy reliance on the Nile River and reiterated support for Egypt’s water security, particularly in the context of the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The statement read: “Recognizing Egypt’s heavy reliance on the Nile River in a context of water scarcity, the EU reiterates its support to Egypt’s water security and to compliance with international law, including concerning the Ethiopian Dam.” It further called on all riparian states to cooperate “based on the principles of prior notification, collaboration, and the “do no harm”.”

Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction and operation of the GERD have long strained diplomatic relations between the two nations. Since the dam’s opening, both countries have traded accusations and diplomatic protests over water allocation and sovereignty issues. Ethiopia’s latest response reflects the ongoing dispute that continues to challenge Egypt over one of Africa’s most critical transboundary water resources.