EU keen to work together with Bangladesh to unlock full potential of partnership

Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Erik Kurzweil today (30 April) acknowledged the strategic importance of the partnership between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) and conveyed EU’s interest in working to unlock the full potential of the partnership.

Both sides recognised that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) would provide a framework for enhanced collaboration in numerous priority areas for shared prosperity.

Kurzweil paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and followed the successful holding of the 5th Bangladesh-EU Diplomatic Consultations in Dhaka.

The state minister underscored Bangladesh’s commitment to advancing a multifaceted and forward-looking partnership with the EU, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides discussed recent political and economic developments, trade and investment, facilitating business visits, LDC graduation, migration cooperation, democracy and human rights, women empowerment and gender equality, cultural cooperation, climate and renewable energy collaboration, multilateralism, as well as regional and multilateral issues, including the Rohingya issue.

The state minister emphasised the need for opening up more legal pathways for migration, including by expanding the Talent Partnership initiative, for creating an effective deterrent to irregular migration to Europe.

She also stressed the importance of FTA with the EU for mutually beneficial trade relations.