H.E. Mr Salman Al Farisi, Secretary General of the IORA
Mr Marc Mertillo, First Counsellor, Ambassador of France
Ms Minakshi Dabee-Hauzaree, Representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Integration of the Republic of Mauritius
Staff members of the IORA
Members of the press
Ladies and gentlemen

I am honoured to submit to H.E. Ambassador Salman Al Farisi, Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) the letter of acceptance of the European Union as a Dialogue Partner, as granted by the IORA’s Council of Ministers on 11 October 2023, in accordance with the provisions of the IORA’s Charter.

I am glad that this event is taking place a few days before the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum that will be held in Brussels on 2 February under the chairmanship of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice President of the Commission, Mr Josep Borrell. The Ministerial Forum serves as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue and cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific and shaping a collective vision for the region’s future.

Today’s event marks a key step in the EU’s strategic approach in a region that is important both in economic and geopolitical terms.

IORA is the only body that covers the entire Indian Ocean region. Becoming a Dialogue Partner to IORA is of political importance at a time when the EU is taking on a key role in the region, fully in line with its Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The EU becomes the 12th IORA Dialogue Partner. Twelve is also the number of stars on the EU flag that will now be flown with the flags of the IORA’s member states and dialogue partners.

The decision to request a Dialogue Partner status at the IORA demonstrates our determination to deepen our engagement with all our partners in the Indian Ocean.

We have a bilateral partnership with most of the IORA Member States and we are committed to reinforce our role as a reliable partner for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.

We fully concur with the priorities of the IORA, particularly in the areas of maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, sustainable fisheries, disaster risk reduction, the blue economy and women’s economic empowerment, as these are also key sectors for the European Union.

We therefore have a lot of scope to work together to promote these priorities for the benefit of partners in this region.

 I look forward to our long and fruitful cooperation.

Thank you for your attention.