Benin and EU renew partnership for development
Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni paid a working visit to the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday, June 24, to lay the groundwork for a modernised partnership between his country and the EU, designed to address evolving development challenges.
He held successive meetings with top EU leaders, including European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen.
During the session with Costa, both sides discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, aiming to inject fresh momentum into a relationship built on trust, stability, and shared goals, according to a statement from the Beninese presidency.
Talks between Wadagni and Von Der Leyen focused on ways to deepen the EU-Benin partnership. The two high-level officials reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating collaboration across several strategic sectors.
They identified three main priorities. The first centres on economic transformation and innovation, with an emphasis on industrialisation, job creation, developing economic corridors around the Port of Cotonou, local agricultural processing, and youth vocational training.
The second priority involves territorial development and security in northern Benin, with plans for increased support to local communities to combat violent extremism through better basic infrastructure and expanded economic opportunities.
The third priority is sustainable finance, linked to the Global Green Bond Initiative, a mechanism designed to facilitate funding for sustainable infrastructure in renewable energy, transport, and agriculture.
Von Der Leyen highlighted that “Benin is a key partner for the European Union in West Africa. This relationship is founded on mutual trust and a shared desire to improve quality of life for everyone.”
According to the Beninese presidency, strengthening the partnership also aims to position Benin as a regional hub for growth, connectivity, and investment in West Africa.
