A senior EU official has said that negotiations on a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (PCA) between the European Union (EU) and Bangladesh will soon reach the final stage.
Paola Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific Region of the European External Action Service, made the remarks during a courtesy call on Principal Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The meeting discussed various aspects of Bangladesh-EU relations, progress on the PCA agreement, the upcoming national elections and referendum, curbing illegal migration, and expanding trade and investment. Pampaloni said that negotiations on a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CPA) have begun in November 2024 and that it will further deepen the relationship between the two sides.
He praised the interim government’s reform initiatives and said that the EU attaches the utmost importance to Bangladesh as a political and trade partner. As part of this, the EU will send a large high-level election observation mission to observe the national elections on February 12.
In response, Professor Yunus expressed gratitude for the EU’s continued support and said that the PCA agreement would further strengthen Bangladesh-EU relations. He reiterated the government’s commitment to holding free, fair and peaceful elections.
Senior officials concerned were also present at the meeting.