Official: Bangladesh-EU relations evolving into strategic partnership

Paola Pampaloni, deputy managing director for Asia and Pacific at the European External Action Service, said on Sunday that Bangladesh-European Union relations have been transforming from development-centric to a wide-ranging strategic partnership.

She conveyed the EU's readiness to extend political and technical support to the interim government's reform initiatives.

The new EU ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, accompanied by Pampaloni paid an introductory courtesy call on Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin at the latter’s office and discussed issues of mutual interest.

The foreign secretary said the EU is an important partner of Bangladesh and hoped for robust future engagements in all spheres.

He highlighted the priorities of the interim government, including deep reforms in different sectors, and the formation of relevant reform commissions for that purpose.

Jashim shed light on the context of the recent student-led mass uprising and bears vast aspirations of the youth for a country free of discrimination, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Referring to a meeting between the chief adviser of Bangladesh and the European Commission president on the sidelines of the 79th UNGA in New York, the foreign secretary expressed the country’s desire to continue to work with the EU in the spirit of long-standing collaboration and shared aspirations.  

Both sides appreciated the exchange of messages between the high-level dignitaries after the formation of the interim government and the upcoming discussion on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement towards elevating Bangladesh-EU relations to a new height.

Both sides also discussed the upcoming Bangladesh-EU Joint Commission meeting, trade and investment, preferential trading facility beyond 2029, and reform in the labour sector.