European Union and Zambia Partnership Dialogue marks the 50 years of strong and committed partnership
The Partnership Dialogue meeting between the European Union and the Republic of Zambia took place in Lusaka on 16 April 2025. The dialogue was co-chaired by Ms Rita Laranjinha, Managing Director for Africa of the European External Action Service, together with Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Heads of Mission of the European Union, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy and Sweden, as well as non-resident Heads of Mission of Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland and Spain took part in the dialogue. The European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships was represented by Hors-Classe Adviser Henrik Hololei. Partnership dialogue is a yearly formal high-level engagement where the EU and Zambia discuss strategic priorities of their partnership.
'Africa is high on our agenda. In the current geopolitical context, partnerships grounded in shared values and interests are more important than ever. The European Union and Zambia are natural partners – committed to democratic governance, peace and security, inclusive and sustainable development, and a rules-based international order ', stated Rita Laranjinha. This year marks the 25th anniversary of partnership between the EU and the African Union and 50 years of EU cooperation with Zambia, a key partner in Southern Africa.
The Partnership Dialogue covered a broad range of issues. Partners discussed the rapidly evolving geopolitical context and exchanged views on global challenges, from peace and security to climate change and environmental protection. Partners confirmed their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and exchanged views on reforms of multilateral institutions.
Significant part of the Partnership Dialogue was dedicated to governance and human rights, legislative and electoral reforms and the role of civil society.
Regional security was prominent in the discussion. The EU reconfirmed its strong relations with the region, including the recent EU-SADC Ministerial meeting and the long-standing support to COMESA with almost EUR €100 million to develop circular economy, trade in services, digital policies with a focus on intra-regional trade competitiveness and markets access.
Discussion focused also on business enabling environment and necessary reforms to facilitate foreign investment and local entrepreneurship.
The EU and Zambia celebrate 50 years of strong partnership, with a positive agenda contributing to Zambia's sustainable and inclusive growth, green transition, human development and social resilience. The European Union is Zambia's first development partner. Collectively, as Team Europe, the EU and Member States provide around 140 million EUR annually in grants. Through its Global Gateway Strategy, the European Union mobilises investment from private sector and European financing institutions. In the period of 2021-2027, the EU provides over EUR 500 million in grants, with EUR 153 million earmarked for 2025-2027 to support sectors of energy, water, transport, raw materials value chains, as well as education and access to justice.
'Global Gateway represents a shift in the EU strategic approach to partnerships. We are offering quality investment in areas where both the EU and Zambia share interest to work together. Investments that enhance local value addition, benefit local communities, create quality jobs, promote highest environmental, social and governance standards', explained Henrik Hololei.
EU and Zambia have concluded Strategic partnerships on Critical Raw Materials, on the development of the Lobito Corridor and on Forestry. EU invests in development of economic activity around strategic corridors, from agriculture and support to start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises, circular economy, to local value chains related to critical raw materials. Education, skills development and governance are key elements of EU support.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to Zambia and COMESA.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
8 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Italy holds referendum on citizenship, workers' rights
8 June 2025 11:03 ROME (AFP)Italians vote on Sunday and Monday in a referendum on easing citizenship rules and strengthening labour laws, with Giorgia Meloni's government opposing both changes and urging people to abstain.A non-EU adult resident without marriage or blood ties to Italy must currently live in the country for 10 years before they can apply for citizenship -- a process which can then take referendum proposal, triggered by a grassroots campaign led by NGOs, would cut this to five years, putting Italy in line with Germany and say around 2.5 million people could benefit from the reform, which is being backed by the centre-left Democratic whose Brothers of Italy party has prioritised cutting illegal immigration even while increasing the number of legal work visas for migrants, is strongly against than 213,500 people acquired Italian citizenship in 2023, double the number in 2020 and one fifth of the European Union total, according to EU than 90 percent were from outside the bloc, mostly from Albania and Morocco, as well as Argentina and Brazil -- two countries with large Italian immigrant agreed in March to restrict the rights to citizenship of those with blood ties to Italy from four to two referendum will only be valid if 50 percent of eligible voters plus one participate. Even if it passes, the reform will not affect the migration law which states that children born in Italy to foreign parents cannot request nationality until they reach 18 years of age. Under Italy's constitution, a referendum can be triggered by a petition signed by at least 500,000 voters. This week's ballot includes one question on citizenship, and four others on increasing protections for workers who are dismissed in precarious situations or involved in workplace accidents.
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
New push in Europe to curb children's social media use
From dangerous diet tips to disinformation, cyberbullying to hate speech, the glut of online content harmful to children grows every day. But several European countries have had enough and agree the EU should do more to prevent minors' access to social media. The European Union already has some of the world's most stringent digital rules to rein in Big Tech, with multiple probes ongoing into how platforms protect children - or fail to do so. Backed by France and Spain, Greece spearheaded a proposal for how the EU should limit children's use of online platforms as a rising body of evidence shows the negative effects of social media on children's mental and physical health. They discussed the plan on Friday with EU counterparts in Luxembourg to push the idea of setting an age of digital adulthood across the 27-country bloc, meaning children would not be able to access social media without parental consent. France, Greece and Denmark believe there should be a ban on social media for under-15s, while Spain has suggested a ban for under-16s. Australia has banned social media for under-16s, taking effect later this year, while New Zealand and Norway are considering a similar prohibition. After the day's talks in Luxembourg, it appeared there was no real appetite at this stage for a EU-wide ban on children under a specific age. But Danish Digital Minister Caroline Stage Olsen indicated there would be no let-up. 'It's going to be something we're pushing for,' she said. Top EU digital official Henna Virkkunen admitted specific age limits would be 'challenging' for multiple reasons, including cultural differences in member states and how it would work in practice. But the European Commission, the EU's digital watchdog, still intends to launch an age-verification app next month, insisting it can be done without disclosing personal details. The EU last month published non-binding draft guidelines for platforms to protect minors, to be finalised once a public consultation ends this month, including setting children's accounts to private by default, and making it easier to block and mute users. French Digital Minister Clara Chappaz said it would be 'a very big step' if the EU made platforms check the real age of their users, as theoretically required under current regulation. The worry is that children as young as seven or eight can easily create an account on social media platforms despite a minimum age of 13, by giving a false date of birth. 'If we all agree as Europeans to say this needs to stop, there needs to be a proper age verification scheme, then it means that children below 13 won't be able to access the platform,' Chappaz said. France has led the way in cracking down on platforms, passing a 2023 law requiring them to obtain parental consent for users under the age of 15. Agence France-Presse
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
China's forex reserves in May up by a less-than-expected $3.6 billion
China's foreign exchange reserves rose by a less-than-expected $3.6 billion in May, official data showed on Saturday, as the dollar continued to weaken against other major currencies. The country's foreign exchange reserves, the world's largest, rose 0.11 per cent to $3.285 trillion last month, below the Reuters forecast of $3.292 trillion. They were $3.282 trillion in April. The increase in reserves was due to 'the combined effects of factors such as exchange rate conversion and asset price changes,' China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange said in a statement. The yuan weakened 1.05 per cent against the dollar in May, while the dollar slid 0.23 per cent against a basket of other major currencies. China's foreign exchange reserves rose by a less-than-expected $3 billion in May, official data showed on Saturday, as the dollar continued to weaken against other major currencies. The country's foreign exchange reserves, the world's largest, rose to $3.285 trillion last month, below the Reuters forecast of $3.292 trillion. They were $3.282 trillion in April. The yuan weakened 1.05 per cent against the dollar in May, while the dollar slid 0.23 per cent against a basket of other major currencies. Meanwhile China's central bank added gold to its reserves in May for the seventh straight month, official data from the People's Bank of China (PBOC) showed on Saturday. Spot prices for gold, often seen as a refuge from economic and geopolitical uncertainty, were steady in May after hitting an all-time high of $3,500 per ounce in April. China's gold reserves rose to 73.83 million fine troy ounces at the end of May from 73.77 million ounces at the end of April. Its gold reserves were valued at $241.99 billion at the end of last month, down from $243.59 billion at the end of April, the PBOC said. With bullion up 27% so far this year due to tariff war fears on top of 27% growth in 2024, gold market specialists say the PBOC's readiness to continue building up gold holdings despite high prices reflects Beijing's desire to diversify its foreign currency reserves. Officials at the PBOC have not publicly said what was driving the gold purchases. In 2024, the PBOC took a six-month pause after an 18-month-long gold purchasing spree, before resuming buying gold in November, when Donald Trump won the US presidential election. The world's central banks are on track to buy 1,000 metric tonnes of gold in 2025, which would be their fourth year of massive purchases as they diversify reserves from dollar-denominated assets into bullion, consultancy Metals Focus said this week. Meanwhile China is willing to accelerate the examination and approval of rare earth exports to European Union firms and will also deliver a verdict on its trade investigation of EU brandy imports by July 5, its commerce ministry said on Saturday. Price commitment consultations between China and the EU on Chinese-made electric vehicles exported to the EU have also entered a final stage but efforts from both sides are still needed, according to a statement on the Chinese commerce ministry's website. The issues were discussed between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Paris on Tuesday, according to the statement. The comments mark progress on matters that have vexed China's relationship with the European Union over the past year. Most recently, China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has upended the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world. The ministry said China attached great importance to the EU's concerns and 'was willing to establish a green channel for qualified applications to speed up the approval process.' Commerce Minister Wang during the meeting 'expressed the hope that the EU will meet us halfway and take effective measures to facilitate, safeguard and promote compliant trade in high-tech products to China,' according to the statement. Chinese anti-dumping measures that applied duties of up to 39 per cent on imports of European brandy - with French cognac bearing the brunt - have also strained relations between Paris and Beijing. The brandy duties were enforced days after the European Union took action against Chinese-made electric vehicle imports to shield its local industry, prompting France's President Emmanuel Macron to accuse Beijing of 'pure retaliation'. The Chinese duties have dented sales of brands including LVMH's Hennessy, Pernod Ricard's Martell and Remy Cointreau. Beijing was initially meant to make a final decision on the brandy duties by January, but extended the deadline to April and then again to July 5. Reuters
