EU-Mauritius Forge New Paths in Joint Partnership Dialogue

In a significant milestone, the Republic of Mauritius made strides in its evolution from a Small Island Developing State to embracing its identity as a Large Ocean State. This transformation was at the heart of discussions during the inaugural Partnership Dialogue between Mauritius and the European Union (EU), co-hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius alongside the EU Ambassador to the island. The Dialogue was underscored by the Samoa Agreement and featured the presence of five Mauritian ministers, senior officials, and ambassadors from seven EU nations.

The partnership meeting was an opportunity for both parties to acknowledge advances made since their last encounter in 2022. With a shared dedication to democracy, human rights, and international law, Mauritius and the EU reiterated their commitment to a relationship grounded in these principles. Celebrating diplomatic, economic, and trade progress, they refocused efforts on development cooperation, financial governance, investment, and sustainable practices in fisheries and regional integration.

The Mauritian Foreign Affairs Minister addressed the participants, underscoring the volatile global climate with emerging challenges such as protectionism and geopolitical tensions. He emphasized the EU’s role as a steadfast and dependable ally, viewing the Partnership Dialogue as a critical platform to deliberate on common priorities. Topics included climate action, economic resilience, maritime security, and innovation, highlighting the need for collaboration that caters to unique island challenges.

In response, the EU Ambassador underscored the importance of steadfast partnerships amidst global instability, emphasizing EU-Mauritius relations built on shared democratic values and a commitment to international and multilateral law. He articulated a desire to enhance cooperation in democracy, financial affairs, climate resilience, and the blue economy, and extended an invitation to foster partnerships in innovation and education through academic exchanges.

African Partnership and Financial Integrity

As both parties celebrated 25 years of the African Union (AU) – EU partnership, the EU highlighted Africa’s strategic importance, sharing a vision for a revitalized mutual future. Supporting the AU’s G20 aspirations and engaging in comprehensive dialogues on global financial governance were subjects of enthusiastic support from Mauritius. Ensuring that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to progress on the global stage remained a key priority.

In discussions on financial governance, Mauritius reiterated its adherence to international financial norms, emphasizing robust anti-avoidance measures and alignment with OECD standards. The proposal to establish a Mauritius-EU Financial Dialogue Mechanism to enhance mutual financial understanding was welcomed by the EU.

Trade Relations and Sustainable Practices

With the EU as a principal trading partner, vital source of tourism, and investor in Mauritius, both parties acknowledged the need to further enhance trade negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with Sub-Saharan Africa. Mauritius identified sectors ripe for EU cooperation, including green energy and technological advancement, with a particular interest in technology transfer initiatives.

The dialogue also explored opportunities within the Blue Economy, a strategic pillar for Mauritius’s sustainable development. The discussions praised EU’s continued support in managing marine resources sustainably, enhancing global value chains, and maintaining artisanal fisheries’ livelihoods. Both parties reinforced commitments to sustainable fisheries governance and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Advancing Maritime and Regional Security Initiatives

Maritime security emerged as a mutual priority, ensuring safety in the Western Indian Ocean amidst threats like piracy and trafficking. Both parties acknowledged longstanding initiatives stemming from 2010 and emphasized harnessing international partnerships to bolster strategic regional efforts. This included cooperation with global organizations and regional bodies like the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Strengthening Regional Integration

The commitment to regional integration and multilateralism was a topic of mutual affirmation. Mauritius, an active participant in regional organizations, welcomed EU-driven projects and sought improved alignment with its national priorities, emphasizing the inclusion of Island-specific challenges within EU programming strategies.

Global Gateway: Opening New Doors

The EU’s Global Gateway initiative, designed to connect the world through strategic investments and partnerships, was introduced. This initiative promises significant contributions in sectors such as energy and digital transformation, with a particular focus on sustainable infrastructure projects within Mauritius.

Celebrated as a potent enabler, Global Gateway was seen as pivotal for infrastructural advancement and represents hope for rapid technology adoption and integration within Mauritius, bolstered by collaborations with EU institutions.

Innovating for the Future

With an eye towards becoming a regional hub for innovation, Mauritius underscored its ambitions with plans for a National AI Strategy and investments in digital services. Both parties expressed interest in expanding cooperation under initiatives like Horizon Europe, setting the stage for Mauritius to further embed itself within global research and innovation networks.

This Dialogue not only solidifies the partnership between Mauritius and the EU but ventures into new avenues for collaboration, ensuring mutual growth aligned with shared values and ambitions for a sustainable future.