European Union
‘PCA can be something broad to discuss Bangladesh-EU relations’
The new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the European Union (EU) can be “something very broad” to discuss future Bangladesh-EU relations, said a senior official at the EU headquarters ahead of the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum.
Talking to UNB virtually, he mentioned joint launching of negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on October 25 last year in Brussels to expand and develop the multi-dimensional relationship between Bangladesh and the EU.
PCA is a legally binding agreement and it is one of three special types of international agreements.
By means of a PCA, the EU works to support the democratic and economic development of a country.
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A PCA is typically entered into for ten years, after which they are automatically extended each year provided no objections are raised.
The third EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum will be held in Brussels on February 2 and it will be chaired by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud is scheduled to attend the forum who is also likely to have a number of meetings on the sidelines of the forum.
It will include an opening plenary session, three roundtable discussions and a closing session.
The Brussels Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum builds on the success of the previous two EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forums held in Paris in February 2022 and in Stockholm in May 2023.
It will provide a platform for dialogue, for shaping a collective vision for the region’s future and for identifying practical ways to enhance cooperation and deepen solidarity.
Europe and the Indo-Pacific are highly interconnected and interdependent, that is why the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum serves as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue and cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Asked whether the EU’s strategy for cooperation with the Indo-Pacific countries will concentrate on the security or economic dimensions, the EU senior official referred to the seven pillars of EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
The seven priority areas for the EU action are sustainable and inclusive prosperity; green transition; ocean governance; digital governance and partnerships; connectivity; security and defence; and human security.
He said Bangladesh is a massive country in terms of population and it has a very impressive economic growth.
Commending the EU as Bangladesh’s largest export market, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud recently requested for EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) trade concessions until 2032 to support Bangladesh’s smooth graduation from the LDC status as well as EU’s import of diversified products from Bangladesh including jute and jute goods along with traditional products like apparels and shrimps.
The Indo-Pacific region is of key strategic importance, both in economic and geopolitical terms. The 2021 EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific sets out how the EU is stepping up collaboration with Indo-Pacific partners to contribute to the region’s stability, security and prosperity.
The EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum will bring together the EU and its Member States with countries from the East coast of Africa in the West to the Pacific islands in the East.
The EU and Indo-Pacific partners will discuss how to address the increasing number of complex economic, environmental, geopolitical, and security challenges that affect both regions. Climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats for all.
It is clear that close cooperation is key to addressing these challenges effectively, achieving sustainable economic growth, and strengthening resilience to shocks and disruptions.
The digital economy, in particular, holds the potential for significant innovation and growth.
EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
The 24th EU-ASEAN Ministerial meeting also takes place in Brussels on February 2.
The meeting will be co-chaired by EU High Representative Josep Borrell and the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo.
It will review the implementation of decisions adopted at the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit held one year ago in December 2022 and agree on future steps in developing the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership.
During last year's EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, the EU pledged to mobilize EUR 10 billion for connectivity projects in ASEAN under the Global Gateway initiative.
To emphasise the centrality of ASEAN in the EU Indo-Pacific Strategy, ASEAN Foreign Ministers have also been invited to participate in the EU’s 3rd Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, to be held on the same day.
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German citizenship to become easier; here are the details
German lawmakers on Friday (January 19, 2024) approved legislation easing the rules on gaining citizenship and ending restrictions on holding dual citizenship. The government argues the plan will bolster the integration of immigrants and help attract skilled workers.
Parliament voted 382-234 for the plan put forward by center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s socially liberal coalition, with 23 lawmakers abstaining. The main center-right opposition bloc criticized the project vehemently, arguing that it would cheapen German citizenship.
The legislation will make people eligible for citizenship after five years in Germany, or three in case of “special integration accomplishments,” rather than eight or six years at present. German-born children would automatically become citizens if one parent has been a legal resident for five years, down from eight years now.
Restrictions on holding dual citizenship will also be dropped. In principle, most people from countries other than European Union members and Switzerland now have to give up their previous nationality when they gain German citizenship, though there are some exemptions.
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The government says that 14% of the population — more than 12 million of the country’s 84.4 million inhabitants — doesn’t have German citizenship and that about 5.3 million of those have lived in Germany for at least a decade. It says that the naturalization rate in Germany is well below the EU average.
In 2022, about 168,500 people were granted German citizenship. That was the highest figure since 2002, boosted by a large increase in the number of Syrian citizens who had arrived in the past decade being naturalized, but still only a fraction of long-term residents.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the reform puts Germany in line with European neighbors such as France and pointed to its need to attract more skilled workers. “We also must make qualified people from around the world an offer like the U.S., like Canada, of which acquiring German citizenship is a part,” she told reporters ahead of the vote.
The legislation stipulates that people being naturalized must be able to support themselves and their relatives, though there are exemptions for people who came to West Germany as “guest workers” up to 1974 and for those who came to communist East Germany to work.
The existing law requires that would-be citizens be committed to the “free democratic fundamental order,” and the new version specifies that antisemitic and racist acts are incompatible with that.
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Scholz said in a video message that, at a time of mounting concern over the far right’s intentions toward immigrants, “we are telling all those who often have lived and worked for decades in Germany, who keep to our laws: You belong in Germany.”
The reform means that no one will have to “deny his roots,” he added.
The conservative opposition asserted that Germany is loosening citizenship requirements just as other countries are tightening theirs.
“This isn’t a citizenship modernization bill — it is a citizenship devaluation bill,” center-right Christian Democrat Alexander Throm told lawmakers.
People who have been in Germany for five or three years haven’t yet grown roots in the country, he said. And he argued that dropping restrictions on dual citizenship will “bring political conflicts from abroad into our politics.”
The citizenship law overhaul is one of a series of social reforms that Scholz’s three-party coalition agreed to carry out when it took office in late 2021. Those also include plans to liberalize rules on the possession and sale of cannabis, and make it easier for transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to change their gender and name in official registers. Both still need parliamentary approval.
In recent months, the government — which has become deeply unpopular as a result of persistent infighting, economic weakness and most recently a home-made budget crisis that resulted in spending and subsidy cuts — also has sought to defuse migration by asylum-seekers as a political problem.
The citizenship reform was passed the day after lawmakers approved legislation that is intended to ease deportations of unsuccessful asylum-seekers.
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EU wants to elevate partnership with Bangladesh to new height: Ambassador Whiteley tells PM
The European Union (EU) wants to take the partnership and cooperation with Bangladesh to a new height, said its ambasador said on Thursday (January 18, 2024).
Ambassador Charles Whiteley made the remarks while paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban.
He also congratulated Hasina on her re-election as the prime minister for fourth consecutive term and the fifth overall.
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"The existing facilities which Bangladesh is currently getting in various sectors including environment, good governance, renewable energy and transportation under the Global Gateway will be further enhanced in the days to come," PM's Deputy Press Secretary Md. Noorelahi Mina said quoted Whiteley.
The ambassador mentioned that the EU had already given Bangladesh 407 million Euro during the recent Global Gateway Forum summit at Brussels in Belgium.
The EU envoy promised to continue the facilities given to Bangladesh under EBA (Everything but Arms) facilities.
He also pledged to continue the GSP plus facilities to Bangladesh, said the deputy press secretary.
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The EU ambssador also highly praised the inititives taken by Hasina's government for the development of those with disabilities and the marginalised people.
Bangladesh Premier has expressed her satisfaction over the existing relationship between her country and the European Union over the last 50 years.
"This relationship between Bangladesh and European Union will be elevated to a new height," she said.
The prime minister thanked the EU for continuing support under the EBA and sought greater cooperation in different sectors including renewable energy under the Global Gateway programme.
Ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin and PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present during the meeting.
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Dhaka, Washington agree to deepen ties to expand trade, strengthen anti-militancy efforts
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday (January 17, 2024) said Bangladesh has agreed to deepen ties with the United States through expansion of trade and strengthening efforts to combat “militancy and fanaticism.”
"We have expressed our commitment to work together," he told reporters after his separate meetings with US Ambassador Peter Haas and European Union Ambassador Charles Whiteley at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Minister said the rise of fanaticism is a problem worldwide.
Responding to a question, he also said there has been exploration of oil offshore.
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The Foreign Minister said there are oil reserves as discovered by a US company.
He said Bangladesh and the US have cooperation in the defence area and they have discussed the issue.
The Foreign Minister said he has discussed the Rohingya repatriation issue with both the ambassadors.
He said Bangladesh wants Rohingyas to return to their homeland with full rights.
EU to start negotiations on Partnership Cooperation Agreement very soon, says Charles Whiteley
Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh is now hosting around 15 lakh Rohingyas, and the number is growing . "It's a burden for us."
Talking to reporters, US Ambassador Peter Haas said he looks forward to working closely with Bangladesh in the coming months on issues of mutual importance.
He mentioned climate change, expanding business opportunities, and other areas of cooperation to advance the relations.
"I look forward to working very closely in the coming months to advance our mutual interest," said Ambassador Haas.
Referring to the meeting with the Foreign Minister, he said it was an opportunity to talk about the future of the US-Bangladesh relationship.
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Regarding his meeting with EU Ambassador Whiteley, the Foreign Minister said they discussed the Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) so that both sides can reach a fruitful position through negotiations.
EU to start negotiations on Partnership Cooperation Agreement very soon, says Charles Whiteley
Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, on Wednesday (January 17, 2024) said they are going to start negotiations on the Partnership Cooperation Agreement very soon which he sees as a new generation agreement involving wide-ranging issues.
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“We had a very fruitful and dynamic discussion,” he told reporters after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Whiteley said they discussed ways to take the Bangladesh-EU partnership forward.
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Peter Haas, Charles Whiteley to meet Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today
Amid continuous greetings from Bangladesh's international friends and partners to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her re-election, ambassadors of the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) are set to meet Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today (January 17, 2024) at his office.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas, who was criticised in the political arena before the January 7 national election, will meet the foreign minister at 12 pm today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Later, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley will meet Minister Hasan Mahmud at 1 pm, according to the minister’s programme schedule.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed her new cabinet on January 11 with a combination of new and old faces.
Even though the United States concluded that the election was not “free or fair,” it voiced commitment to work with Bangladesh.
The US ambassador also attended the oath-taking ceremony held at Bangabhaban recently.
“Looking ahead, the United States remains committed to partnering with Bangladesh to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, to supporting human rights and civil society in Bangladesh, and to deepening our people-to-people and economic ties,” said US State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller a day after the election.
The European Union (EU) said it will continue to work with the government of Bangladesh on the priorities that characterise their longstanding relations in the political, human rights, trade and development spheres including the country’s possible future access to the GSP+ preferential trade scheme.
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"The EU strongly encourages all stakeholders to respect political pluralism, democratic values and international human rights standards and to engage in peaceful dialogue," said High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles in a statement on behalf of the EU.
It is essential that the media, civil society and political parties can carry out their work without censorship or fear of reprisals, said the EU.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met the foreign minister on Monday.He was the first foreign envoy to meet the foreign minister after formation of the new Cabinet.
Ruling out any external pressure, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said Bangladesh will stick to its foreign policy principle – “friendship to all, malice towards none” – against the backdrop of a divided world.
US Ambassador Peter Haas holding meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen
“All the countries in the East and the West have expressed their willingness to work with us, with the government. At the end of the day, they are our development partners and we will work together,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Minister is scheduled to leave for Uganda on Wednesday night to attend the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Will continue to work with government of Bangladesh on priorities that characterise longstanding relations: EU
The European Union (EU) on Tuesday (January 09, 2024) said it will continue to work with the government of Bangladesh on the priorities that characterise their longstanding relations in the political, human rights, trade and development spheres including the country’s possible future access to the GSP+ preferential trade scheme.
"The EU strongly encourages all stakeholders to respect political pluralism, democratic values and international human rights standards and to engage in peaceful dialogue," reads the statement issued from Brussels.
It is essential that the media, civil society and political parties can carry out their work without censorship or fear of reprisals, said the EU.
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The statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the parliamentary elections has taken note of the outcome of the Parliamentary elections, which were held in Bangladesh last Sunday.
It reiterated that the long-term EU-Bangladesh partnership is underpinned by the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The EU regretted that not all major parties participated in this election.
The EU welcomed the agreement of the authorities to make public the upcoming report and recommendations of the EU Election Expert Mission.
Read more: Happy with people’s verdict; no reason to worry about US, UK statements: Foreign Minister
"In the same spirit of transparency and accountability, we call upon the relevant authorities to ensure a timely and full investigation of all reported election irregularities," the statement reads.
The EU condemned the acts of violence that occurred during the electoral period and urges everybody to refrain from violence in the post-election period.
"It is also key that the rule of law, judicial independence, due process and the right to peaceful assembly are respected and upheld in this period and beyond. In this regard, detention of opposition figures is highly concerning," reads the statement.
Read more: Scottish MP congratulates PM Hasina on re-election, praises election process
EU delegation in town to assess labour conditions
A delegation of the European Union (EU) arrived in Dhaka on Sunday to have discussions with relevant stakeholders on the country’s labour sector.
"Freshly arrived in Dhaka for EU exchanges with Bangladesh stakeholders on labour rights and human rights," EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter after his arrival together with some of the delegation members from Brussels.
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They visited a school for children with disabilities in Badda, Dhaka.
"Very glad to be again in Dhaka," said Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Paola Pampaloni who is leading the delegation.
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They will have meetings with labour, commerce and foreign secretaries of the government on Wednesday apart from their talks with other relevant stakeholders.
The visit is aimed at taking "stock of progress" in implementing the National Action Plan for the labour sector, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley told UNB.
Bangladesh adopted a National Action Plan (2021-2026) on the labour sector and the plan is closely linked to the roadmap submitted by the government of Bangladesh to the ILO Governing Body as the result of an Article 26 complaint.
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The roadmap aims to improve the country’s observance of labour rights including freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
Last month, Ambassador Whiteley said aligning labour law with international standards will be an “essential element” for the European Parliament and the Commission in considering Bangladesh’s application for market access, the GSP+.
“Bangladesh has the option to accede to GSP+ which is the next most generous GSP programme after the Everything but Arms (EBA),” he said while speaking at a seminar in Dhaka.
PM’s Brussels visit ‘significant’ at a ‘crucial time’, will take Bangladesh-EU ties to a new height: Momen
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday (October 22, 2023) described Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Brussels as “extremely significant” which will help take Bangladesh’s ties with the European Union (EU) to a new height.
“This is a very significant visit. This is an achievement for us,” he told reporters, noting that the visit is happening at a “crucial moment.”
Asked why it is a crucial time, Momen referred to the upcoming general election of Bangladesh. “We hope the visit will be very successful and fruitful.”
The prime minister will be visiting Brussels from October 24-26 at the invitation of European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen.
Also read: PM Hasina to attend Global Gateway Forum 2023 in Brussels this month: Momen
The foreign minister said that the EU will provide Euro 407 million to Bangladesh in the form of concessional loans and grants.
Of this, Euro 350 million will be concessional loans, he said.
Responding to a question, the foreign minister said the EU will send a seven-member team and Bangladesh will not spend money on foreign election observers.
The prime minister will attend the Global Gateway Forum, which will bring together representatives of governments from the European Union and around the world along with the private sector, civil society, leading thinkers, financing institutions, and international organisations. The event will be held in the Belgian capital on October 25, 26.
The prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with European Commission Vice President and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.
The two sides are likely to shed light on taking the 50-year relations to new a height, Momen said.
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A loan agreement worth 350 million Euros will be signed between the Economic Relations Division and European Investment Bank during the visit.
The PM will deliver her speech at the opening plenary session of the Global Gateway Forum which will be held for the first time.
She will also hold a meeting with European Investment Bank President Dr Werner Hoyer, Momen said.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen will separately meet the prime minister.
She will attend a dinner to be hosted by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
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PM Hasina will also attend a civic reception to be arranged by Bangladeshi expatriates in Belgium.
She is scheduled to leave for Brussels on Tuesday morning by a commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
She will leave Brussels on Thursday night and arrive in Dhaka on Friday, said Momen who will accompany the premier.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, invited PM Hasina when they met at the G20 Summit recently.
The EU's Global Gateway strategy connects countries and regions around the world by encouraging public and private investments in a global network of transportation and supply chains, green energy, modern telecommunications, education and research, with an emphasis on sustainable development and European values, such as good governance, transparency and equal partnership.
Aligning labour law with international standards ‘essential’ to consider GSP+, EU Ambassador says
Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Wednesday said aligning labour law with international standards will be an “essential element” for the European Parliament and the Commission in considering Bangladesh’s application for market access, the GSP+.
“Bangladesh has the option to accede to GSP+ which is the next most generous GSP programme after the Everything but Arms (EBA),” he said while speaking at a seminar in Dhaka.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi attended the seminar as the chief guest while President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Md Sameer Sattar delivered welcome remarks.
Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Lokman Hossain Miah, among others, spoke at the seminar.
The DCCI and European Union Delegation to Bangladesh jointly hosted the seminar, titled “Unlocking Trade and Investment for European Companies in Bangladesh.”
Read: EU urged to extend transition period of GSP up to 6 years for smooth graduation of Bangladesh
The EU ambassador said the implementation of the National Action Plan on the labour sector, which Bangladesh agreed with the EU, will be key deciding factor for GSP+.
“We are closely following the ongoing amendments of the Bangladesh Labour Act. We hope that the amendments will be effective with full transparency, in consultation with tripartite stakeholders, and with technical assistance from ILO,” he said.
The envoy said Bangladesh is a rising economy with a great story of economic development and social progress.
The graduation to a lower middle-income and to a developing country status are historic milestones which bring new opportunities and which call for a reinvigoration of EU-Bangladesh ties, he said.