28th Political Dialogue between the EU and Mozambique praise continued cooperation on common challenges and opportunities

05.06.2020

The exchange of views with the Mozambican Government covered several areas, including peace and security, economic growth and sustainable development, democracy, good governance and human rights, the COVID19 situation in Mozambique and the "Team Europe" response.

The 28th Political Dialogue Meeting between the European Union and the Government Mozambique took place in Maputo on 5 June 2020, under the theme "Mozambique and European Union: a dynamic and solidary partnership”.  This was the first Political Dialogue with the new Government of Mozambique, following the October 2019 general elections.

The discussions sought to move the relationship between Mozambique and the European Union to a higher level by strengthening political dialogue and multilateral and bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest. The exchange of views with the Mozambican Government covered several areas, including peace and security, economic growth and sustainable development, democracy, good governance and human rights, the COVID19 situation in Mozambique and the "Team Europe" response.

The European Union praised the Mozambican Government for the efforts and measures adopted to contain the spread of COVID19 and both sides analysed the current pandemic situation and its socio-economic impacts in the country. The Mozambican authorities appreciated European solidarity and the support mobilized under the “Team Europe” approach as a contribution for Mozambique´s response to the pandemic.

When addressing the security situation in Cabo Delgado, its domestic and regional implications, the two delegations condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated in the province and pledged to strengthen collaboration.

On peace, they reiterated the importance of implementing the Definitive Peace Agreement to ensure lasting stability in the country, with the EU underlining its support for compliance with the timetable defined for the process of demobilization, demilitarization and reintegration.

People posing in front of the camera in the stairs

Multilateral cooperation was also on the table. The delegations discussed the relations between Africa and the European Union, looking at the 2020 calendar, in particular the African Union - European Union Summit, scheduled for end of October 2020. Mozambique shared the priorities for its future presidency at Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The political dialogue, similarly to sector level dialogues, is a privileged forum for an open discussion of matters of mutual interest and represents the commitment to a continuously consolidating partnership between the European Union and Mozambique. The 29th Political Dialogue meeting is scheduled to take place still in the course of 2020 outside Maputo.  

The EU-Mozambique Political Dialogue was co-chaired by Her Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Veronica Macamo, with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation as well as senior staff from other Ministries and institutions who also took part,  and the EU Ambassador Antonio Sanchez-Benedito Gaspar, accompanied by the Ambassadors of Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden; by the Chargés d'Affaires of Germany and Spain, and by the representatives of Austria and Belgium.