Press release- 9 May 2025
On the 9th of May 2025, the Government of The Gambia hosted the inaugural partnership dialogue with the European Union (EU) and its Member States under the new “Samoa Agreement,” which defines the framework for cooperation between The Gambia and the EU.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, Hon. Baboucarr O. Joof, and Rita Laranjinha, Managing Director for Africa of the European External Action Service. It was attended by Ministers of Communications and Digital Economy, representatives from various ministries, and the EU Delegation in The Gambia, as well as European Union Member States accredited to the country, including the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Finland, Spain, Poland, Portugal, and Italy.
The dialogue session was comprehensive and addressed several areas of mutual interest, including: the state of play on The Gambia’s democratic transition, the EU/The Gambia cooperation agenda, resource mobilization, strengthening coordination mechanisms, budget support, green and inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, climate change, job creation, youth economic empowerment, regional and continental integration, transitional justice and governance, mobility and migration, and fishery.
Following the meeting, Honourable Minister Joof stated: “Today, we conclude a successful and constructive session of the Gambia–EU Partnership Dialogue. I am pleased to acknowledge the open and candid nature of our discussions, which reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership between The Gambia and the European Union.”
Minister Joof emphasized, “Together, we addressed key issues of mutual interest, including political development, good governance, regional cooperation, environmental sustainability, and resilience. These engagements have not only deepened our understanding of each other’s perspectives but also resulted in concrete action points that will support the effective implementation of the Samoa Agreement and The Gambia’s National Development Plan.”
He also extended his sincere appreciation to the European Union and its delegation in The Gambia for their continued support and constructive engagement. He thanked all participants and stakeholders for their valuable contributions throughout the dialogue.
In line with the Government’s vision going forward, Minister Joof expressed, “As we move forward, the Government of The Gambia remains firmly committed to implementing the outcomes of this dialogue and to working closely with the European Union in pursuit of our common goals. I am confident that the spirit of cooperation demonstrated today will serve as a foundation for even greater collaboration in the years ahead.”
On the EU side, Managing Director Rita Laranjinha commented: “I want to thank The Gambian government and His Excellency President Adama Barrow for hosting today’s dialogue, which fully met the EU’s expectations. The friendly tone and substance of our interactions today reflected the nature of our fruitful relationship, one of true friendship. We dared to speak openly, but with mutual understanding and respect.”
She added, “We remain mobilized in our multidimensional partnership, which, in the current geopolitical context, has become more instrumental than ever. I also want to commend The Gambia for the significant role played in multilateral fora and for its active participation in the EU-Africa Union (EU-AU) partnership, whose 25th anniversary we celebrate this year.”
Background
The Samoa Agreement was signed on November 15, 2023, serving as the framework for European Union (EU) relations with the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific (OACPS)
