Bangladesh, EU finalise PCA text

Bangladesh and the European Union have finalised the text of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA), which will serve as the legal and political foundation for a strategic and long-term Bangladesh-EU relationship.

The agreement was finalised at the fifth round of negotiations held in Dhaka on January 7–8.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary (Bilateral) Dr Nazrul Islam led the Bangladesh delegation, while the EU side was headed by Paola Pampaloni, acting managing director for Asia-Pacific at the European External Action Service.

The EU is Bangladesh’s largest trading bloc, with total trade in goods between the two sides amounting to €22.2 billion in 2024.

The agreement is expected to deepen cooperation in a wide range of policy areas, including human rights and governance, trade and investment, environmental sustainability and climate change, food security, energy, transport, and science, technology and innovation.

Earlier on Wednesday, the EU delegation paid courtesy calls on the chief adviser and the foreign adviser.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including the PCA, the upcoming general elections and referendum, combating illegal migration, cooperation in renewable energy, and expanding trade and investment.

Pampaloni stressed the importance of a peaceful election in Bangladesh, noting that Bangladesh-EU relations could reach new heights following a successful democratic transition, ushering in a new era of engagement between Dhaka and the world’s largest economic bloc.