This
meeting
focused
on
key
areas
of
cooperation,
including
trade,
investment,
peace
and
security,
climate
action, and
development,
as
well
as
on
the
Structured
Dialogue
on
arrears
clearance
and
debt
resolution,
and
its
economic,
good
governance
and
land
issues
tracks.
Today,
the
Government
of the
Republic
of Zimbabwe
and
the
European
Union
convened
their
Partnership
Dialogue
in
Harare,
affirming
their
commitment
to
strengthening
political
and
economic
cooperation.
The
meeting
was
co-chaired
by
Ambassador A.R. Chimbindi,
Permanent
Secretary
of
the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
and
International
Trade,
and
Ambassador J.
von
Kirchmann of
the
European
Union.
They
were
joined
by
Senior Government
Officials from
different
Ministries
as
well
as
by
Ambassadors
and
Heads
of Mission from
France,
Germany,
Italy,
Ireland,
Romania,
and
Portugal,
along
with
the
Chargees
d’Affaires
of
Spain,
Sweden,
and
The
Netherlands,
and
the
Deputy
Head
of
Mission
of
Belgium
and
the
Political
Officer
from
Denmark.
The
Partnership
Dialogue
facilitated
frank
and
constructive
exchanges,
reflecting
the
long-standing
relations
between
the
two
entities.
The
discussions
covered
shared
interests,
while
also
exploring
opportunities
for
enhanced
collaboration.
A
wide
range
of
important
issues
were
discussed,
including
Zimbabwe’s
chairmanship
of
the
Southern
African
Development
Community
(SADC), and regional,
continental
and
international peace
and
security. Both
sides
reaffirmed
their
commitment
to
promoting
peace,
stability,
and
multilateral
cooperation.
Trade
and
investment
were
highlighted
as
key
drivers
for
growth,
with
both
parties
exploring
ways
to
strengthen
economic
ties
and
create
a
more
conducive
environment
for
business.
Benefiting
from
privileged
quota-
and
duty-free
access
to
the
EU’s
27
countries,
Zimbabwe
and
the
EU
agreed
to
work
towards
unlocking
the
potential
for
increased
trade. Both
parties
reiterated
their
commitment to continued
engagement in order to
deepen
the
Economic
Partnership
Agreement
(EPA). In
addition,
the
EU
announced
plans
to
mobilise
European
companies
and
organise
a
business
event
early
next
year,
aimed
at
boosting
investments
in
close
collaboration
with
the Government
of
Zimbabwe
and
the
business
community.
The
Government
of
the
Republic
of
Zimbabwe
noted
that
the
EU
had
removed
most
of
the
sanctions
it
imposed
on
the
country,
and
reiterated
the
call
for
the
removal
of
the
remaining
sanctions
on
the
Zimbabwe
Defence
Industries.
The
EU
reaffirmed
its
openness
to
continued
dialogue
on
the
matter.
Regarding
climate
change,
and
particularly
the
negative
impact
of
the
El
Niño-induced
drought,
the
EU
highlighted
its
initiatives
under
the
Climate-Smart
Agriculture
Team
Europe
Initiative.
It
also
announced
the
mobilization
of
an
additional
USD
6.6
million
through
its
Humanitarian
Aid
Department
(ECHO)
to
mitigate
the
impact
of
the
drought.
The
Government
of
Zimbabwe
expressed
appreciation
for
the
pledges
made
by
the
European
Union
towards
mitigating
the
impacts
of
climate
change
and
implored
the
EU
countries
to
own
up
to
pledges
made
at
the
Conference
of
Parties
at
the
United
Nations
Framework
Convention
on
Climate
Change,
to
finance
capacity
building,
adaptation
and
resilience
building.
Regarding
Zimbabwe’s
economic
recovery
efforts,
particularly
the Arrears
Clearance
and
Debt
Resolution process, discussions focused
on the
three
tracks
of
the
Dialogue.
The
Government
of
the
Republic
of Zimbabwe and
the
EU
reiterated
their
commitment
to
continue
participating
in
the
Structured
Dialogue
Process.
Development
cooperation
was
also
a key topic,
with
the
EU
outlining
its
support
for
Zimbabwe’s
national
priorities.
Zimbabwe
welcomed
the
EU’s
comprehensive
development
portfolio
under
the
Global
Gateway
and
its
two
“Team
Europe
Initiatives”
on
gender
equality
and
women’s
empowerment,
and
on
greener
and
climate-smart
agriculture.
The Dialogue concluded
with
both
parties
reaffirming
their
commitment
to
strengthening
their
partnership
and collaboration on areas
of
mutual
interest. They
agreed
to
hold
the
next
Partnership
Dialogue at
a
mutually
agreed
date
to
be
communicated
via
diplomatic
channels within
the
next
six
months.