Eritrea and the European Union

The European Union has summoned the ambassadors of all its member states in Asmara to make consultations after the expulsion of the Italian ambassador from Eritrea earlier this month.

News reports quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the European Union is studying the necessary measure to be taken in retaliation to expelling the Italian ambassador Antonio Bandini after he had led a European protest against suppressing reformers and the press in Eritrea.

A western source in the Eritrean capital Asmara said that the EU will take necessary measures but does not want to create a state of feud with Eritrea.

Worthy mentioning that Italy has expelled the Eritrea's ambassador in Rome after Asmara called on the Italian ambassador to leave the country on September 28 after he had presented an official protest to the Eritrean government, on behalf of the European union over arresting 11 reformers in September and closing of independent dailies.

The European Union said that this expulsion will lead to re-considering its relations with Eritrea in line with an agreement for trade and aids between the European Union and a group of the developing countries.