The Fifth Senior Officials Meeting between the Maldives and the European Union (EU) was held in Malé, marking a significant step forward in the mutually beneficial relationship rooted in shared values and a commitment to international law. The meeting focused on various sectors including democratic reforms, green transition, climate change, good governance, human rights, and security.
Democratic Reforms and Elections
The EU congratulated the Maldives on successfully conducting major elections, including the Presidential Elections in September 2023 and the Parliamentary elections in April 2024. The Maldives expressed gratitude to the EU for sending an Elections Observation Mission (EOM) during the Presidential election and welcomed the final report. Both parties discussed the importance of implementing the recommendations from the EOM report to further strengthen the electoral process and consolidate democracy in the Maldives.
Enhancing Economic and Regional Integration
The Maldives is currently in the process of completing the domestic legal procedures to sign and ratify the Samoa Agreement, following its membership in the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). This step is seen as crucial for enhancing the relationship between the Maldives and the EU, as well as for regional integration. It also sets the stage for the Maldives to negotiate its accession to an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between a regional group of OACPS and the EU, providing tariff-free access to the EU market.
Governance and Human Rights
The Maldives detailed ongoing initiatives to improve the governance system, build economic resilience, and ensure the protection of human rights through significant changes to the legal and justice sectors. The focus is on integrating human rights protection into development strategies, particularly to enhance protections for vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities. Both the Maldives and the EU emphasised the importance of maintaining a vibrant civil society and upholding freedom of expression and opinion as key foundations of democracy.
Environmental and Economic Initiatives
The Maldives acknowledged the EU’s support through the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027, particularly highlighting the “Accountability and Integrity Matters – AIM Project” valued at EUR 5 million, aimed at strengthening the rule of law and enhancing transparency. Additionally, a financing agreement on “Improved Biodiversity Management to support a Blue Economy in the Maldives,” was signed, allocating EUR 6.5 million towards biodiversity protection and sustainable natural resource management.
The Maldives also raised significant challenges in waste management and energy security, seeking EU support for comprehensive and sustainable waste management solutions and renewable energy systems. The ongoing support provided through the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, including the Sustainable Energy Development Programme implemented by the European Investment Bank (EIB), is crucial in reducing diesel usage and enhancing renewable energy use.
Health Sector and Climate Change
The Maldives recognised the EU’s support in enhancing the resilience of its health sector with a EUR 18.5 million EIB loan for establishing a modern national health laboratory and expanding regional hospitals with infectious disease wards. The meeting also addressed the critical impact of climate change, with both parties agreeing on the need for accelerated climate action and increased climate financing for adaptation to protect people, property, and livelihoods.
Multilateral Cooperation and Security
The Maldives and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in multilateral fora, particularly in promoting human rights through the Human Rights Council. Both sides also emphasised their ongoing cooperation in combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and ensuring the sustainable management of fish stocks in the Indian Ocean.
Future Prospects
The Maldives reiterated its request for visa-free travel for Maldivian nationals to EU member states, with the EU indicating that this request would be addressed in the next review of visa lists. The decision by the Council of the European Union to digitalise the Schengen Visa procedure was welcomed, as it would ease the visa process for Maldivians.
The meeting, co-chaired by Fathimath Inaya, Foreign Secretary, and Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and Pacific at the European External Action Service, concluded with both sides committed to further enhancing their cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
