EU committed € 1.36 million to support civil society from 2018 to 2022

Botswana and the European Union ( EU) engaged each other this week in a meeting that emphasised the importance of meeting more often in order to effectively enhance their strategic partnership for mutual gain.

The overall objective of the EU support to Botswana is to contribute to inclusive economic development through the expansion of diversified sources of economic growth and labour- market relevant skills and competences, as well as relevant reform measures, with a focus on gender equality policies and women’s economic empowerment.

The EU cooperation programme is in line with the just- ended National Development Plan 11, which focused on facilitating economic diversification and job creation by supporting skills development, fostering business environment reforms and increasing intra- and inter- regional trade through the implementation of the EU- SADC Economic Partnership Agreement.

EU programmes in Botswana funded under the 11th European Development Fund amount to € 27 million. In addition, the EU has committed € 1.36 million from 2018 to 2022 to support civil society, mainly in the areas of human rights, gender equality governance and social inclusion.

The Tuesday Botswana- EU political dialogue discussed, among others, political and economic aspects, political developments as well as multilateral issues in the SADC region and globally.

The EU member states are among the country’s trusted friends who for decades gave assistance from a combination of bilateral assistance, European Development Fund and technical assistance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lemogang Kwape said Botswana is committed to working with the EU to solidify and enhance cooperation between the two. Kwape said the Botswana- EU political dialogue platform accords Botswana, EU and individual member states an opportunity to share ideas and engage in a candid exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern.

Kwape underscored the fact that the cooperation between the two would help the country on its endeavour to strengthen its systems and develop crucial sectors such as health, education transport, renewable energy and others through innovation, technology and digitalisation.

He has no doubt that both will surely succeed in this endeavour because their relations are longstanding and anchored on shared interests and commitments to common values of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, among other noble principles.

Relations between the two have grown significantly in a number of areas including political relations, security, development cooperation, economic and trade relations.

Kwape said their current discussions would bear positive results that would give birth to a solid strategic partnership aimed at promoting and sustaining socio- economic and political developments as well as uplifting living standards.

In her response, Head of the European Union delegation and co- chairperson, Petra Pereyra said Botswana was a valuable partner to the EU and the two shared common values and interests. She emphasised that the Botswana- EU Political Dialogue had many achievements at both local and international level.

The elated Pereyra used the moment to congratulate Botswana for hosting the Kimberly Process secretariat, saying that was an acknowledgement on how the country had been mining and managing its natural resources.

EU first opened a Delegation office in Gaborone in 1981 following the 1st Lomé Convention.

Since then, operations have expanded reflecting the increasing importance of the relationship between the Union and Botswana.

The “Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States on the one part and the European Community and its Member States on the other part” was signed on 23 June 2000 in Cotonou, Benin – hence the name “ACP- EC Partnership Agreement” or “Cotonou Agreement”.

This agreement was a successor of the Lomé IV Convention. It was concluded for a 21- year period from March 2000 to February 2020, and entered into force in April 2003.

It was revised for the first time in June 2005, with the revision entering into force on 1 July 2008.

A second revision of the Agreement was agreed on 11th March 2010.