RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The European Union and Côte d’Ivoire
Political and economic relations between the European Union and Côte d'Ivoire are based on shared values and common interests. The European Union, originally represented in Côte d’Ivoire by a technical office, has now a Delegation, equivalent to an embassy, which better reflects the reality of its partnership with the country.
The EU has been working to support Côte d'Ivoire towards sustainable and inclusive development, in line with the Global Gateway Strategy.
Through a 'Team Europe approach', Global Gateway will bring together the EU, its Member States and their financial and development institutions to mobilise the private sector to leverage investments for a transformational impact.
Political Relations
A constant commitment with Côte d’Ivoire
Since 1961, the European Union's commitment to Côte d'Ivoire has been constant, regardless of crisis and government changes. This long-term partnership is based on respect for shared fundamental values and interests. The EU has thus made a strong commitment to peace and democracy, particularly during the crisis following the 2010 presidential election, when the EU took steps to ensure respect for the democratic choice of the Ivorian people.
The EU is working closely with the Ivorian government to support Côte d'Ivoire towards its goal – becoming an emerging economy. The EU maintains a regular dialogue with the Ivoirian government and civil society on all issues of common interest and supports their efforts to promote stability, the strengthening of rule of law and good governance, as well as the economic recovery of the country in a post-Covid context.
Economic, Trade and Investment Relations
The European union is the largest trading partner and the largest private investor in Côte d'Ivoire
Pending the signing of the regional Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between West Africa and the European Union, the European Union and Côte d'Ivoire have concluded an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement. This agreement came into force in 2016, but had already been applied provisionally since 2008.
Thanks to this EPA, all goods originating in Côte d'Ivoire (with the exception of arms and ammunition) enter the European market duty-free and without quantitative restrictions. In return, Côte d'Ivoire is gradually liberalizing imports of 88% of goods originating in the EU. This liberalization is taking place in five phases up to 2029. With the completion of the third phase at the beginning of 2024, 55% of goods originating from the EU now enter the Ivorian market duty-free and without quantitative restrictions.
Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana were the first West African countries to apply reciprocity, with progressive liberalization of customs duties for products originating in the European Union. Currently, 15 African countries are in the process of implementing EPAs with the EU.
Between 2010 and 2023, Côte d'Ivoire's exports to the EU rose from 3 billion euros to 5.2 billion euros. Côte d'Ivoire's imports from the EU rose from 1.6 billion to 4 billion euros. With these figures, the EU is Côte d'Ivoire's biggest trading partner, accounting for a third of its foreign trade. The EU is also the biggest investor in Côte d'Ivoire. Its companies account for 42% of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Dialogue with Civil Society
Civil society is a key actor for a sustainable and participatory democracy
A strong, rich and diverse civil society is an essential tool for social cohesion and defence of rights and freedoms. The action of the European Union and its member states in Côte d'Ivoire regarding civil society is guided by a regularly updated roadmap.
The European Union supports civil society organisations (CSOs) especially through the Leadership and Initiatives of Non-State Actors project (LIANE 1 and LIANE 2). This project aims to strengthen CSOs’ capacities for action and their participation in dialogue and in the country's political, economic, social and environmental development. The LIANE 2 project supports, for example, micro-initiatives promoting social cohesion and the common values of the European Union and Côte d'Ivoire.
COVID-19 Response
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in Côte d’Ivoire in March 2020, the European Union has supported its partner in its fight against COVID-19
The support of the European Union, its Member States and the European Investment Bank (EIB), acting together as "Team Europe", resulted in several actions.
At the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, in March 2020, emergency support was put in place thanks to a "solidarity caravan" organized with the Magic System Foundation and the Didier Drogba Foundation as well as other partners, including European companies. This “solidarity caravan” helped vulnerable families in Abidjan and its suburbs to cope with the consequences of the curfew and the closure of some businesses.
Then, "Team Europe" mobilized 150 billion FCFA to support, among other things, the fund set up by the government to help SMEs and large companies. Project funds from the EU and its Member States also have been redirected to the fight against COVID-19. Finally, thanks to the Covax mechanism, to which they contribute 2.47 billion euros, the European Union and its Member States have enabled Côte d'Ivoire to receive more than 750,000 vaccine doses against Covid-19.
Development Cooperation
The European Union maintains a strong partnership with Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire and the EU share strong political, cultural and economic ties. Côte d'Ivoire is the second biggest economy in West Africa after Nigeria and the country with the highest GDP per capita in the region. As the world’s top exporter of cocoa and raw cashew nuts, Côte d’Ivoire has one of the biggest development and growth potential in the region.
As an example of these strong ties, Côte d’Ivoire is one of the two countries in the West African region (the other being Ghana) with which the EU has signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Another example being the Côte d’Ivoire-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) which aims to address illegal logging, improve forest governance and promote trade in legal timber products. The Côte d’Ivoire-EU VPA negotiations started in 2013, have catalyzed important legal reforms in support of the forests in Côte d’Ivoire. The agreement is expected to be signed before the end of 2023. The EU also supports the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire through the EU Sustainable Cocoa Initiative.
Global Gateway
The Global Gateway is the EU’s positive offer of cooperation to our partner countries in support of their own strategic autonomy, aligning partner countries and EU interests, by scaling up high-quality geostrategic investments and promoting sustainable financing.
Covering five main themes (digital, climate and energy, transport, health and education and research), it is implemented thought the Team Europe approach.
Our flagship initiatives
The EU has been working to support Côte d'Ivoire towards sustainable and inclusive development, in line with the Global Gateway Strategy.
The EU operates together with its Member States, their agencies and the European Investment Bank (Team Europe). Team Europe focuses on three initiatives:
Sustainable Cocoa – Recognising that Côte d'Ivoire is the world's leading cocoa producer and the European Union is the world's largest cocoa market (67% of Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa exports go to the European Union), the Initiative plans to support the implementation of the Ivorian national strategy set out in the White Paper. It aims to i) achieve the transition to a sustainable cocoa economy in Côte d'Ivoire (protection and rehabilitation of natural ecosystems, biodiversity and improve the living conditions of farmers and vulnerable groups); ii) support the private sector, including cocoa farmers and cooperatives, to develop innovative agricultural practices; iii) combating child and forced labour; iv) improve the governance of the cocoa sector and guarantee transparency in the management of resources. The total indicative contribution from partners amounts to EUR 429 million.
Low Carbon Transition – The Team Europe Initiative supports Ivorian mitigation actions in: (1) increased production and access to more electricity from renewable energy sources; (2) Recovery of agricultural waste, its use for fertilisers, alternative or less polluting cooking energy and electricity generation; (3) energy efficiency notably in the industry and building sectors; (4) the promotion of cleaner and better structured public and private transport modes; and (5) support to better measure the progress of its low-carbon transition. The total indicative contributions from partners amounts to EUR 1,479 billion.
Peace and Stability: This Team Europe Initiative aims to: (1) strengthen the quality of governance and human rights; (2) support migration policy and migrant management; (3) support the fight against terrorism and organised crime; and (4) strengthen the role of civil society as an actor in cohesion. The total indicative contributions from partners amounts to EUR 477 million.
Our EU programmes
In terms of bilateral allocation, the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Côte d’Ivoire under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) for 2021-2024 amounts to €228 million.
The three priority areas of intervention are:
Develop human capital - this area focuses on:
- Vocational training: contributing to the employability of young people, including girls, and meeting skill needs.
- Social Protection: contributing to the reduction of social and health vulnerabilities.
- Migration as a development opportunity.
Foster inclusive, sustainable, and digital growth - this area has the following priorities:
- Business climate and sustainability of investments: aligning economic interests and development.
- Agriculture and Food Systems Sustainability: supporting a transformation system for agriculture and food so that it is fair.
- Low-carbon transition: supporting sustained economic growth by limiting its climate impacts.
Strengthen the rule of law and democratic governance, maintain the peace and stability - This area aims at advancing:
- Democracy and human rights: deepening the bedrock of common values between the EU and Côte d'Ivoire and the commitment to a multilateral world.
- Peace, stability, and social cohesion: preserving Côte d'Ivoire as a pole of stability in West Africa.
- Digital governance: supporting the digital transformation of Côte d'Ivoire through inclusive, safe, and human-centred digital governance.
The EU has dedicated programmes for the development of the northern regions and we already provide support towards productive investments for enhancing access to energy, sustainable agriculture, management of protected areas of the Comoé National Park, addressing inter-communal violence, strengthening conflict prevention, and promoting socio-economic development of cross-border regions. For example the EU is contributing to the construction of a 37.5 MWp solar power plant (centrale Boundiali) in the North of the country, the largest and first public solar power plant in Côte d’Ivoire to be connected to the grid.
Our bilateral cooperation is complemented by EU regional Global Gateway programmes in the areas of security, green transition (including energy), sustainable growth and agriculture. For example, Côte d’Ivoire will benefit from the EU-Africa strategic corridors to enhance transport infrastructure.
The European Union and its Member States recognize the importance of civil society as a powerful vector of change and a fully-fledged actor in the development of the country and will continue its structural reinforcement, in order to create the conditions, legal and systemic, to make civil society organizations legitimate and competent.
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