epa08831693 Ethiopians celebrate the military and carry Amhara flags and Ethiopian national flags in the streets after a national call to stand in honour of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 17 November 2020. (issued 20 November 2020). Aid agencies are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ethiopia for aid to reach civilians affected by the fighting. The leader of the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia Debretsion Gebremichael has called on the African Union (AU) to intervene to prevent Ethiopia from spiralling into civil war. There is a dispute over control of the region with Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, claiming transgressions by Tigray's leaders have pushed him to take military action whilst Debretsion Gebremichael has said Tigray will continue to defend itself until negotiations take place. EPA-EFE/STR
The European Union says any decision to normalize relations with the Ethiopian government will depend on how successful efforts are at resolving the conflict in the northern Tigray region.
After the civil war broke out in November 2020, the EU suspended budgetary support citing human rights abuses.
Foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said progress on ending the conflict was a rare example of good news in the world today.
But he said the gradual normalization of relations with Ethiopia was dependent on how the peace process develops.
