A vibrant display of blue and gold lights cast a welcoming glow across the residence of the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Tanzania. The air crackled with anticipation as Europe Day celebrations kicked off with a panel discussion aimed at empowering Tanzanian youth with educational opportunities in Europe.

For many young Tanzanians, the dream of studying abroad can feel distant, shrouded in unknowns. But on this Europe Day, at the EU Ambassador's residence, a panel of alumni, beneficiaries of European education themselves, shared their stories and made this option more visible.

EU Delegation

Their experiences resonated with the young audience, whose curiosity was evident in the flurry of questions that followed. Where to start? What opportunities exist? The panel discussion was both informative and conversational, offering hope and a clear roadmap from the shared experiences.

As the panel discussion concluded, the official Europe Day reception began. Invited guests started pouring into the residence of the EU Ambassador. The guests included senior government officials, religious leaders, members of civil society, cultural actors, and youth. The reception officially began with the arrival of the guest of honor, the Minister for Finance, Mwigulu Nchemba.

EU Ambassador to Tanzania Christine Grau, surrounded by EU Member States Ambassadors in Tanzania, opened the reception with a speech highlighting the strong partnership between the European Union and Tanzania. She emphasized cooperation in trade, investment, development, and shared values.

“Through our Global Gateway approach, we want to support our partners such as Tanzania to build the capacity, the networks and the bridges necessary to join the global markets as equal, unleashing the economic development potential of the country,” said Ambassador Grau.

Praising Tanzania's progress in gender equality, Ambassador Grau stressed the importance of youth empowerment through initiatives like the Erasmus+ scholarships and the Youth Sounding Board (YSB).

The YSB, officially launched at the reception, aims to strategically engage young individuals in EU external actions, focusing on youth engagement, empowerment, and harnessing the demographic dividend. Comprising 25 young members from diverse regions of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, the YSB will advise the Ambassador, Member Statess and the delegation on youth participation and empowerment in key EU priorities such as the blue economy, human capital and employment, and governance. This aligns with the United Republic of Tanzania Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-2027.

EU Delegation

Ambassador Grau underscored the EU's commitment to democratic principles and global cooperation, referencing the Samoa Agreement and the EU's security support in Africa. She concluded by reaffirming the EU's dedication to fostering peace, security, and development in partnership with Tanzania.

Following her, Minister for Finance Dr. Nchemba acknowledged the EU as a key strategic partner, noting the substantial financial support from Tanzania. He mentioned the Tanzanian government has received support amounting to TZS 6.4 trillion (EUR 2,394 million) as grants and TZS 1.5 trillion (EUR 573 million) as concessional loans from the European Investment Bank.

“We equally appreciate the EU’s significant support through regional frameworks such as the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community. The EU's commitment to uplifting African nations through these partnerships has been instrumental in our development journey,” said Nchemba.