B Mirror Desk : The first round of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) negotiations took place at the EU headquarters in Brussels on Thursday. The PCA aims to provide a “comprehensive and robust framework” for Bangladesh-EU relations to enhance cooperation in multifarious sectors while guiding future interactions in the face of new global realities and emerging challenges. The two sides agreed to continue having constructive dialogue with the goal of concluding the PCA negotiations by next year.

According to the EU, the PCA will give Bangladesh-EU relations a new legal foundation, which is more comprehensive and up-to-date and will respond better to current and evolving challenges.

Health, education, agriculture, migration, skills development, sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian action, terrorism, and peace and security issues were also discussed.

The two sides discussed various topics, outlining mutual interests and aspirations for a more engaging and meaningful partnership between Bangladesh and the EU.

The commencement of the first round underscores the commitment of both parties to elevate their partnership, aiming to position Bangladesh as the first South Asian nation to ink a PCA with the EU, reports UNB.

Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Bangladesh delegation to the first round of discussions as the chief negotiator, while the EU side was led by Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director of the EU’s Asia and Pacific Division at the European External Action Service, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

Khandker Masudul Alam, Head of Mission of Bangladesh to the EU, also attended the event. Additionally, representatives from different ministries, divisions, and agencies of the Bangladesh government joined the discussion both in person and online.

At a time that works for all parties, the next round of negotiations is anticipated to take place in Dhaka.

The first “political discussion” between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) took place in Dhaka in November 2022. This marked the beginning of a historic collaboration between the two countries that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023 and a broadening of cooperation into strategic and thematic areas of shared interest.