Staff Reporter :
The European Union (EU) has expressed its satisfaction with the progress Bangladesh demonstrated in implementing the Standard Operating Procedures for the identification and return of persons without an authorisation to stay in the EU countries.
The EU urged Bangladesh to continue its commitment and achieve further concrete results, clearing the backlog of cases, and meeting the commitments set out in the Standard Operating Procedures.
The EU and Bangladesh agreed to step up cooperation on climate action, digitalization, connectivity and security, taking into account the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo Pacific region. In this regard, both sides discussed initiating a regular political dialogue for providing strategic guidance and intensifying foreign and security policy cooperation.
This information came through a joint statement issued after the fourth diplomatic consultations between Bangladesh and European Union on October 26 in Brussels. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen represented Bangladesh in the consultations, while the EU delegation was led by the European External Action Service Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Gunnar Wiegand.
The EU presented its new Strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides discussed the political and security situation in the region, particularly in Myanmar and Afghanistan, maritime security, as well as counter-terrorism and cooperation within the UN fora, also read the statement.
Both sides agreed to work on this common agenda with a view to capturing concrete progress and deliverables, which will be reviewed in the course of the next consultations, to be held in Dhaka in 2023.
The EU commended Bangladesh for its continuing success as the by far largest beneficiary of the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) unilateral preferential trade scheme. In this context, the EU welcomed the finalisation and publication by Bangladesh of its National Action Plan on the labour sector and stressed the need for its comprehensive implementation as per the stipulated timelines.
The EU reiterated its appreciation for the generous role and action of the people and Government of Bangladesh for continuing to temporarily host a million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar for more than four years.
Both sides stressed the need for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar and welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Bangladesh and the UNHCR relating to Bhasan Char.
The EU raised the importance of providing perspectives to the largely young population of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas, especially in terms of education, improved livelihoods and of ensuring safety and security.
Democracy and human rights shared values between Bangladesh and the EU. The EU raised the issue of the Digital Security Act (DSA), expressing concerns that some of its provisions risk going beyond the stated purpose of fighting digital crime and also inquired about certain ongoing trials in this context.
The EU encouraged Bangladesh to implement the recommendations made during the last Universal Periodic Review.
The EU commended Bangladesh’s leadership of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and of the V20 Climate Vulnerables Finance Summit. The discussion covered a range of topics and priorities in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation, with the EU signaling, inter alia, interest to support renewable energy, notably regional hydropower generation, and energy connectivity.
The EU invited Bangladesh to consider a Green Partnership with the EU, which both sides will discuss in detail at the climate dialogue in Dhaka in early 2022. Bangladesh commended the EU’s commitments towards climate action and the EU provided further information regarding its proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Cooperation under the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) of the EU was discussed with a view to enhancing cooperation, particularly in the areas of strengthening health systems and green inclusive development.
Agency adds: The European Union (EU) has raised the Digital Security Act (DSA) issue, expressing worries that some of its provisions risk going beyond the stated purpose of fighting digital crimes.
It also enquired about certain ongoing trials in this context and encouraged Bangladesh to implement the recommendations made during the last Universal Periodic Review.
The EU and Bangladesh met for their fourth Diplomatic Consultations in Brussels recently and discussed the issues.
The Bangladesh side provided updates and shared its perspectives in this regard, and both sides agreed on the need to strengthen democratic governance in the post-Covid recovery and condemned communal or sectarian violence and discrimination in any form or manifestation, anywhere.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen while the EU delegation was led by the European External Action Service Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Gunnar Wiegand.
Democracy and human rights are shared values between Bangladesh and the EU, according to the joint press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Wednesday.
Both sides agreed to work on this common agenda with a view to reaching concrete progress and deliverables, which will be reviewed in the course of the next consultations, to be held in Dhaka in 2023.
