The sixth biennial consultations between Bhutan and the European Union were held in Thimphu today.
During the consultations, the two delegations reviewed all aspects of bilateral relations between Bhutan and the EU, and discussed means to further strengthen the excellent cooperation between the two.
Bhutan and the EU have a successful ongoing development cooperation. For the current cycle of 2014-2020, the EU has committed Euro 42 million for Bhutan in development cooperation in the two sectors of good governance and renewable natural resources.
In addition to bilateral cooperation, Bhutan benefits from a number of regional mechanisms that the EU supports most notably in the areas of clim.ate change and disaster management.
The Bhutanese delegation briefed the EU delegation on Bhutan’s democratization process and the socio-economic gains that Bhutan has made in the recent years. The Bhutanese delegation welcomed the EU’s commitment to further strengthen cooperation with Bhutan through both bilateral and regional charurels. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress of the ongoing cooperation.
The EU delegation was lead by Ms. Maria Castillo Femandez, Head of Division, European Extemal Action Service of the European Commission. Mr. Kinga Singye, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lead the Bhutanese delegation.
Bhutan and the EU established diplomatic relations in 1985.