The 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council was kicked off through virtual video conference to adopt budget and endorse 2021 theme on Tuesday evening, Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed.

The Council has adopted AU budget for the year 2021 endorsing “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers to building the Africa We Want” as theme of the year 2021.

On the event, Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew, suggested that the 2021 budget should consider COVID-19 pandemic and the economic potentials of the member states.

The Minister expressed his hope that the Commission would implement the reform agenda giving due attention to competence and relevance to the requirements that the jobs demand.

He also appreciated the Permanent Representative Committee and the Committee of Fifteen Finance Ministers (F15) for successfully handling the reform agenda of the Commission amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Naledi Mandisa Pandoris chaired the session.

Read the full article on Ethiopian Herald.