Joint communiqué of the 12th EU-Cape Verde Special Partnership ministerial meeting
Within the scope of the EU-Cape Verde Special Partnership, the 12th political dialogue meeting at ministerial level between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde was held on 31 January 2023 in Praia, in Praia. .
- Within the scope of the EU-Cape Verde Special Partnership, the 12th political dialogue meeting at ministerial level between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde was held on 31 January 2023 in Praia, in Praia. .
- The European Union and Cape Verde (hereinafter referred to as “partners”) reiterated their strong commitment to the shared values and common agenda of the Special Partnership and underlined the importance of the partnership in the current geopolitical context. The partners reaffirmed their commitment to respect for human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law, as well as their commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order.
- Building on the high-level event on 25 November 2022, which marked the 15th anniversary of the Special Partnerships, both partners highlighted the success of the partnership in achieving its objectives. Over the past fifteen years, solid progress has been made under all its pillars, thanks to various cooperation activities between Cape Verde and the EU and its Member States. Cape Verde underlined that the EU stands out as a key partner for its development and in areas of common strategic interest, such as security, including maritime safety, the blue economy, digital transformation, energy transition and hydrogen production.
- With regard to the current geopolitical context and the situation in Eastern Europe, both partners reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and deplored the Russian Federation's aggression.
- The partners recognized the disruptions caused by the war in trade flows and value chains, which have put pressure on markets, producers and consumers around the world and threaten the food security of vulnerable populations in many regions of the world, compounding the already negative effects of the COVID-19 and drought. In Europe, energy price increases have created an unprecedented challenge that affects economic well-being. In Cape Verde, development gains have been eroded, which has had a negative impact on human development indicators, as highlighted in Cape Verde's declaration of a social and economic emergency in June 2022. The partners reiterated their constant commitment to collaborate to respond to the impact of these crises and, taking into account Cape Verde's status as a middle-income country, recognized the importance of providing budgetary and development assistance to the country to help it face these challenges, namely by exploring other financing source.
- Regarding COVID-19, the partners recognized the serious impact of the pandemic on Cape Verde's economy and underlined the strong interconnection of the European and Cape Verdean economies. The EU congratulated Cape Verde on its comprehensive response to the pandemic, including a very successful vaccination campaign, to which the European Union and its Member States contributed substantial vaccine donations. Cape Verde expressed its appreciation for the EU's immediate support and solidarity, namely through the rapid adaptation of projects in 2020, as well as the early disbursement of budget support in 2021 and the prospect of maintaining this support in 2023. Mutual recognition of digital certificates COVID from the EU and Cape Verde is proof of the results that the Special Partnership can produce.
- The partners pledged to intensify coordination on many issues on the international agenda, underlining their agreement to continue close collaboration on WTO reform, the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to global security issues, including cybersecurity.
- Partners discussed peace and security in the West African region and Cape Verde's regional strategy, highlighting the positive role Cape Verde can play in the region. Given the importance of maritime security, the parties agreed to maintain cooperation within the frameworks of the Yaoundé architecture and the EU coordinated maritime presences concept initiative. In this context, the parties welcomed the creation of the Multinational Center for Maritime Coordination, in Praia, and the maritime events of December 2022, in which five vessels from four EU Member States participated. The partners also highlighted the progress made in controlling illicit trafficking, including major seizures of cocaine in the waters under Cape Verde's jurisdiction.
- The partners exchanged views on their bilateral cooperation program 2021-2027, including budget support to help Cape Verde achieve two main goals: reaching the target of 50% renewable energy by 2030 and eradicating extreme poverty by 2026. The EU praised Cape Verde's ambition, which would place it among the first countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goal No. 1. Both partners agreed to continue to make joint efforts to support these strategic objectives and to strengthen cooperation in favor of a green and inclusive growth, as well as maintaining a regular strategic dialogue on these issues, including at political level.
- The EU confirmed that Cape Verde is a partner of the Global Gateway Strategy and can benefit from Team Europe initiatives, including with regard to the mobilization of private investments. As examples of great importance, the partners welcomed the launch of the EllaLink fiber optic connection in Cape Verde, in June 2022, and the inauguration of a modernized port on the island of Maio, in September 2022, which forms part of part of the Praia-Abidjan transport corridor. Other potential investments are being discussed with Cape Verde under the Global Gateway Strategy, with the aim of supporting the country's goals in terms of renewable energy, developing its blue economy, strengthening its digital sovereignty and cybersecurity and supporting its aspirations as a provider of smart and secure digital services in the region.
- Partners welcomed Cape Verde's growing involvement in scientific and academic networks such as GÉANT and RedCLARA, resulting from the country's participation in the EllaLink and BELLA projects. Cape Verde will take a leading role in expanding these networks to West Africa through an ambitious regional agenda on digital and data connectivity, creating unprecedented opportunities for scientific and business exchanges, and facilitating the sharing of high-performance computing data. and Earth observation. The partners also welcomed Cape Verde's signing of the Declaration of the Alliance for Research and Innovation across the Atlantic Ocean, in July 2022, and its participation in the Alliance, which aims to strengthen international cooperation in the fields of research and marine innovation in order to promote the health and sustainable development of the Atlantic Ocean. Partners encourage higher education institutions in Cape Verde to increase cooperation and mobility with their European peers through the Erasmus+ program. Mobility of researchers can also be supported through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
- The partners discussed the implementation protocol of the 2006 Fisheries Partnership Agreement (APP), maritime and fisheries policy and the role of the APP in the development of the maritime economy in Cape Verde. The partners agreed to continue discussions on this topic in 2023.
- With regard to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+), the partners agreed that it is important that Cape Verdean products continue to benefit from preferential access to the EU market after 2023. Regarding the derogation of the rules of origin under the GSP regime , the partners will continue to exchange views on the adaptation process, as the derogation is granted for a period of three years. The partners agreed to consider the possible provision of technical support for submission in Cape Verde's application under the next GSP+ regime, once the new EU GSP regime is in place.
- The partners agreed to work towards unlocking the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with West Africa, which provides for an automatic waiver for fisheries and cumulation of origin possibilities between all countries in the region, which would help resolve the problem of tuna supply shortages that Cape Verde regularly faces. Furthermore, partners welcomed the gradual implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, recognizing its role in enhancing regional and continental economic integration to the benefit of all its members.
- The partners welcomed the entry into force, on 1 July 2022, of the amendment to the Visa Facilitation Agreement, which reduces costs and simplifies the requirements for obtaining short-stay Schengen visas for Cape Verdean citizens. verdians.
- The partners decided that the next ministerial meeting will be held in 2024 in Brussels.
