Since 1981 the EU has been engaged with the Maldives, providing development assistance and prioritizing the archipelago’s unique set of development issues, with a special focus on its environmental imperatives.
The EU is providing support for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. An archipelago of low-lying islands, the Maldives has been identified as one of the world’s most vulnerable regions in the face of rising sea levels and climate change. With its highest regions standing at an altitude of about one metre, much of the Maldives could be submerged in ocean within the next century. The EU is committed to assist the country to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon, which could see the coral islands disappear and become the first true victim of global warming, unless current climate trends are reversed.
The EU has allocated a total of EUR 6.5 million to support the Government of the Maldives in the development and implementation of its climate change strategy and action plan. Through these development initiatives, the EU hopes to build a climate resilient economy and society through adaptation to climate change as well as mitigation, for a carbon neutral development path.
In June 2019, the EU signed its first Financing Agreement of EUR 5 million with the Government of Maldives, to support the Government in implementing its Nationally Determined Contributions. In addition, a EUR 45 million loan to assist projects in renewable energy was signed between the Government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in July as a further demonstration of EU's commitment to step up cooperation in this area
The Maldives Climate Change Trust Fund was launched with the support of the EU, the Australian Agency for International Development, World Bank and the Government of Maldives. The project covers climate mitigation, wetlands conservation and coral reef monitoring and solid waste management in the Ari Atoll.
In light of the efforts underway in the Maldives to step up and coordinate the prevention of violent extremism and the countering of terrorism, the EU has allocated EUR 2.5 million for the Maldives to strengthen its preparedness and response capabilities.
