According to the European Union ambassador to Angola, Rosário Bento Pais, the first program, which ran between 2020 and 2024, suffered the negative effects of covid-19, despite having accelerated at the end of implementation, with the second phase expected to “ be more dynamic from the beginning.”
The EU-funded program, worth 4 million euros, aims to promote dialogue actions between Angolan and European Union institutions in the areas of the Joint Path, a high-level political agreement celebrated in 2012 that identifies priority thematic areas for cooperation, including peace and security, good governance, science and technology, economic growth, environmental sustainability, etc.
“This is putting into practice the dialogue between Angola and the European Union (…), which is unique and strategic”, highlighted Rosário Pais.
The new Facility, which begins this year and continues until 2028, will now begin inviting calls for project development and intends, according to the ambassador, to also boost the Global Gateway strategy, under which the European Union develops several projects in Angola, namely the Lobito Corridor, a railway link that crosses Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the first phase of the program, 15 actions were implemented, more than 300 meetings and work sessions were held, 12 studies and publications were carried out, 13 study visits were organized, seven seminars were organized and six partnership declarations were signed.
