Bangladesh-EU initial partnership cooperation agreement
Bangladesh and the European Union have taken a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations by initialling a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in Brussels, setting the stage for deeper engagement across political, economic, and strategic sectors.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman led the delegation during the visit, accompanied by Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir. The agreement was initialled in the presence of EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, who described the framework as a forward-looking platform to broaden cooperation in governance, trade, security, climate action, and development.
Officials said the PCA reflects a shift in Bangladesh-EU ties as Dhaka prepares for its transition from least developed country (LDC) status, requiring more structured and long-term economic arrangements. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration on regional stability, global challenges, and sustainable development goals.
During meetings at the European External Action Service, Bangladesh highlighted recent political developments and reform initiatives under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, while expressing appreciation for the EU’s election observation efforts. Dhaka also stressed the importance of predictable and preferential market access, seeking progress toward a Free Trade Agreement and an Investment Protection Agreement to safeguard future trade flows.
The discussions also covered migration management, labour mobility, and humanitarian cooperation, with Bangladesh urging continued EU support for Rohingya refugees and long-term solutions to the crisis. European officials acknowledged Bangladesh’s role in hosting displaced populations and signalled continued engagement.
In a separate bilateral meeting with Maxime Prévot, both sides explored opportunities in logistics, port development, green technology, pharmaceuticals, and digital innovation. Plans were confirmed to hold the next round of Bangladesh-Belgium consultations later this year.
Additional talks with EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva focused on research collaboration, including Bangladesh’s participation in Horizon Europe programmes, signalling growing cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.
.png "Advertisement")
