The European Union has reaffirmed support to Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow’s reform agenda to establish strong democratic institutions in respect of human rights and the rule of law.
The EU also stated that the new governments revocation of last year’s withdrawal of The Gambia from the ICC, demonstrates its commitment to international justice.
This is contained in a statement issued late Thursday, March 16th after meeting between Federica Mogherini, High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP), Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, and President Adama Barrow in Brussels.
President Barrow is on his maiden European tour which started with a three-day visit to France where he met President Hollander and the development partners and French Companies ready to invest in Gambia.
The EU meeting was an opportunity to welcome President Barrow to the EU institutions following his election in December 2016 which saw a peaceful change of leadership in January, with exemplary support by the region.
The High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini highlighted that the change in leadership in the country opens a new chapter in EU-Gambia relations and that the EU fully supports President Barrow’s reform agenda to establish strong democratic institutions in respect of human rights and the rule of law.
“As part of the EU’s support to the democratic transition, an EU Election Observation Mission has been deployed to the country earlier this week to observe parliamentary elections on 6 April. Together with partners, the EU is ready to look into support to security sector reform and to the ECOMIG mission” stated the EU after the top officials meeting with President Barrow.
Meanwhile, the statement indicated that both sides agreed that creating employment and domestic perspectives for youth was a priority. They exchanged views on common challenges such as irregular migration and agreed to deepen the cooperation in this area.
Commissioner Mimica thanked President Barrow for the warm reception during his mission to Banjul in February this year.
A first package of €75 million which was signed in Banjul is already under way, and a new package of €150 million is taking shape. It is envisaged to include budget support in the form of a “State Building Contract”, which will also support key democratic reforms.
