Prime Minister chairs regular meeting of Mauritania-EU partnership dialogue

The Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay chaired the regular meeting of the Mauritania-European Union Partnership Dialogue this evening in the meeting room of the Prime Minister’s Office.

The meeting discussed various aspects of cooperation between the two parties and issues of mutual interest.

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister welcomed the European delegation, stressing that this regular meeting is a milestone in the cooperation between the two sides and reflects the strength of the strategic partnership based on mutual trust, regular consultation and a shared desire to achieve tangible results that serve stability and sustainable development.

The Prime Minister explained that the session’s agenda addressed a number of issues of mutual interest, including the political situation in Mauritania and Europe, peace and security issues and the humanitarian dimension in the context of regional and international crises, as well as the national economic situation and structural reforms, the ‘Global Gateway’ programme, human development, and sectoral policies such as migration, fisheries and defence.

The Prime Minister noted that these themes are in line with the programme of His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and his executive plan, which runs until 2029 and focuses on building the rule of law, strengthening institutions, developing a sustainable economy, stimulating productive sectors and ensuring equitable access to basic services.

He emphasised that the government has made effective and transparent management of public finances a national priority, praising in this context the European Union’s support for performance-based budgetary reform and its contribution to supporting the national budget.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the government’s programme to extend basic services for local development, which covers various regions of the country and includes the education, health, water, electricity, agriculture and isolation sectors, with a particular focus on the most disadvantaged areas, based on a participatory approach.

With regard to security and migration issues, the Prime Minister emphasised Mauritania’s commitment to coordinated, responsible and humane management of migration flows, based on respect for rights and fair sharing of responsibilities, while stressing that Mauritania would remain a committed actor in the pursuit of peace and stability in the Sahel region.

The Prime Minister concluded his speech by expressing his confidence that the outcomes of this dialogue would contribute to strengthening and developing the partnership between Mauritania and the European Union.

For her part, the Director-General for Africa at the European External Action Service, Her Excellency Ms Patricia Llombart Cussac, expressed her delight at her first visit to Mauritania, considering this meeting to be an important annual milestone in bilateral relations, through strategic dialogue that falls within the framework of existing partnerships between the two sides.

She explained that the European Union and Mauritania are able, based on shared values, to work together to defend the multilateral system and contribute to its reform, ensuring that it serves the interests of the majority of countries and promotes cooperation, consultation and joint action, within a framework that guarantees the participation of all parties and preserves their right to express themselves and vote.

Ms. Llombart Cussac congratulated Mauritania on joining the Steering Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Centre, considering that this step will strengthen Mauritania’s presence in multilateral frameworks and enable it to share its expertise in public policy as a key regional player, while benefiting from the exchange of experiences and expertise.

The European official presented the delegation accompanying her, which included representatives and directors of international cooperation and partnerships, as well as officials from Brussels and ambassadors of European Union countries accredited to Mauritania, including the European Union ambassador.

The regular political dialogue meeting with the European Union is organised under the Partnership Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union, and aims to strengthen and deepen the partnership on issues of common interest such as security, the economy, development, the promotion of human rights, civil and political rights, and elections.

The meeting was attended by Their Excellencies the Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Government, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime and Port Infrastructure, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior in charge of Decentralisation and Local Development, and the Assistant Director of the Prime Minister’s Office.