S.E.R.C Reports: 90% Recovery of CIC Assets | APSARA Authority Provides Traditional Khmer House Designs to Angkor Residents | Kratie Province Celebrated as Cambodia's 15th Mine-Free Region | Hun Sen Set to Participate in Boao Forum in China |

Cambodia and the European Union Hold 11th Joint Committee Meeting

PHNOM PENH: The 11th Cambodia-EU Joint Committee Meeting was held in Phnom Penh in a hybrid format on Thursday and Friday, 10-11 March, to review the progress made since the 10th Joint Committee Meeting held in Brussels back in 2018. The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luy David, and the Deputy Managing Director for Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service, Paola Pampaloni.

According to a joint press release issued by Cambodia and the European Union (EU), the 11th Cambodia-EU Joint Committee Meeting saw the exchange of views on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including the latest political developments in both Cambodia and the EU. The meeting also discussed other matters such the situation in Ukraine, Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN, the situation in Myanmar, the global economy, climate change, EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The EU commended Cambodia for successfully convening the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting in 2021, which demonstrated the shared efforts and commitment in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuring that multilateralism remains relevant and effective in addressing regional and global issues. The EU further expressed its full support for Cambodia’s 2022 ASEAN Chairmanship, as well as the appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, as the Special Envoy of ASEAN to Myanmar.

Three main sub-groups under the headings of 1) Trade and Investment, 2) Cooperation, and 3) Institution Building, Administrative Reform, Legal and Judicial Reform, Governance and Human Rights also moved forward with discussions on progress in each respective sub-group’s focus.

The sub-group on Institution Building, Administrative Reform, Legal and Judicial Reform, Governance and Human Rights exchanged views on key developments on human rights, anti-trafficking policies and ratification of international conventions, as well as Cambodia’s multi-dimensional reform efforts and preparation towards the upcoming 2022 Commune Elections.

The sub-group on trade and investment reviewed Cambodia-EU bilateral trade and the investment climate in Cambodia, noting that bilateral trade in 2020 and 2021 had passed the €4 billion mark (€4.3 billion and € 4.5 billion respectively). The meeting further discussed matters related to economic recovery measures, bilateral trade and investment relations, and both sides expressed a commitment to further strengthening cooperation to ensure Cambodia’s investment climate remains open, well-facilitated, competitive and conducive to sustainable socio-economic development.

Finally, the sub-group on development cooperation highlighted the progress made in relation to EU’s continued support to Cambodia’s development, with particular appreciation for the adoption of the EU’s new cooperation Multiannual Indicative Programme (2021-2027) valued at €155 million for the period between 2021-2024, and which focuses on the three priority areas of “Green Growth and Decent Jobs,” “Education and Skills Development,” and “Good Governance.” Both parties exchanged progress on policy reform, particularly in the EU-supported sectors of education, public financial management, social protection and fisheries, and expressed value for the progress in thematic and regional cooperation programs such as ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the EU (ARISE Plus).

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the 12th Cambodia-EU Joint Committee and its three sub-group meetings would be held in 2023 in Brussels.



Related News