The Maldives and the European Union have held the fifth annual Policy Dialogue virtually today amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Policy dialogue is held as an annual feature to strengthen the cooperation and engagement between the Maldives and the European Union in various sectors.
A joint press release by the Maldives and EU said that the discussions were open and constructive covering a wide array of thematic areas, including democracy and governance, strengthening of the justice sector, promotion and protection of human rights, advancing the rights of vulnerable groups, security cooperation, cooperation in the fisheries sector, economic sector, trade, investment and economic policy, financial policy, climate change, and environment.
It said that the Maldives shared its action plan on a resilient post-Covid-19 recovery, formulated to ensure sustainability and achieving meaningful socio-economic development. The Maldives also conveyed gratitude to the European Union for the continued assistance towards the socio-economic development of the country and particularly noted the support extended for the Government’sefforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the ensuing discussions, the European Union member states acknowledged the positive efforts of the Maldives to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU), particularly through the recent reforms brought to the respective domestic legislation.
The European Union highlighted the need for continued cooperation in this area.
The European Union member states also took note of the request by the Maldives to explore the means of facilitating the Schengen Visa process in the Maldives.
The Maldives delegation was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid.
The Maldives delegation comprised of members of the Cabinet which includes the Minister of Finance, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Minister of Environment, Minister of Tourism, Minister of Health, Acting Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services, and senior officials from the President’sOffice, Attorney General’s Office, Ministry of Economic Development, Maldives Police Service and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.
The delegation comprising of European Heads of Mission was led by Mr. Denis Chaibi, Ambassador of the European Union to the Maldives. The European Union delegation consisted of Heads of Mission from France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Czech Republic, Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Denmark, and Sweden.
