EU, govt dialogue on governance, business
Malawi Government and the European Union (EU) have agreed to boost private sector development, build climate-smart infrastructure and strengthen transparency and accountability to underpin the country’s economic and political governance.
The issues emerged yesterday during a second political dialogue between the EU and senior Malawi government officials in Lilongwe.
In a statement on the deliberations, the EU Delegation to Malawi said the meeting covered a wide range of issues relating to priority areas of the EU’s 2021-2027 Multi-annual Indicative Programme, which includes green and resilient economic transformation, democratic and economic governance and human development and social inclusion.
Reads the statement in part: “The exchanges also touched on geo-political developments and common values, in particular multilateral where the EU, EU members States and Malawi meet, and the impact on Malawi of the Russian war against Ukraine.”
The statement also quoted EU Ambassador Rune Skinnebach as having stated that the programme is critical to enabling the EU build a trusted partnership with Malawi to create a prosperous, peaceful and inclusive society.
He said: “This aspiration remained relevant today as it was over 60 years ago at the birth of the European Union and it was more so in the context of Malawi, where EU was keen to contribute to strengthening the basis for an investment and business conducive environment.”
Skinnebach said the EU strives to systematically ensure dialogue, consultation and advocacy for the objectives of the EU and Malawi’s partnership as aligned in Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development strategy.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo, who led the Malawi delegation, said the EU’s steadfast support to the Malawi Government remains invaluable.
She commended the convergence of views on how to accelerate a just energy transition for Malawi that creates jobs and opportunities across the country.
The statement further said that during the meeting, both parties re-affirmed their commitment to holding a regular high-level political dialogue between them and to promote democracy, rule of law, good governance and human rights.
Tembo was accompanied by Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza and other senior government officials while the EU Delegation included Skinnebach, Ireland Ambassador Seamus O’Grady, Finland Ambassador Saana Halinen, Ambassador of Netherlands Margaret Verwijk, Ambassador of Slovakia Vladmir Gracz, Ambassador-designate of France David Martinon and German Deputy Ambassador Kunt Gummert, among others.
