Timor-Leste hosts the 15th Ministerial Meeting between the European Union and the PALOP-TL countries
Starting on June 4th and going until June 6th, the Noble Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is hosting a high-level multilateral meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation and consolidating strategic partnerships geared towards the institutional, cultural and economic development of the participating countries.
Organized by the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the meeting brings together Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ministers of Finance, and other high-level representatives from the six member countries of the PALOP-TL Group – Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste – as well as representatives from the European Commission and EU delegations in the group's countries. Guinea-Bissau currently holds the rotating presidency of the PALOP-TL Group.
The meeting agenda is divided into two main parts: a technical meeting, to be held on June 4 and 5, dedicated to monitoring ongoing projects—such as Pro PALOP-TL and Pro CULTURA I—and preparing future initiatives, including Pro CULTURA II and Pro JUST; and the ministerial meeting, scheduled for June 6, which will focus on strategic reflection on the future of the partnership.
The XV Ministerial Meeting will enable participants to share experiences and gather useful information for defining a joint strategic approach focused on projects under development and in the planning stage within the framework of cooperation between the EU and the PALOP-TL countries. Attention will be focused on institutional strengthening and the implementation of new actions in the areas of culture, justice, and governance. The meeting will also include discussions on ways to deepen the partnership and improve joint communication mechanisms.
"It is an honour for Timor-Leste to host this high-level meeting for the second time since our integration into the PALOP-TL Group in 2007. This meeting symbolizes the strengthening of our partnerships and recognition of our commitment to the principles of cooperation shared by the countries of the Group and the European Union," said Timor-Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique, Verónica Macamo, current coordinator of the Group for Partnership with the EU, emphasized that “this meeting reaffirms the commitment of the PALOP-TL countries to institutional strengthening and the promotion of joint strategies. The partnership with the European Union has been fundamental to the sustainable development of our countries, and this meeting is an important step towards consolidating our common goals."
The European Union Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Marc Friedrich, emphasized that “this 15th Ministerial Meeting represents a significant milestone for the consolidation of relations between the PALOP-TL and the European Union, reaffirming the joint commitment to the sustainable development of this group.”
As part of the activities complementing the meeting, visits are planned to key institutions in Dili, namely the National Parliament, the Court of Appeal, and the Museum of Resistance. These visits aim to strengthen the historical, cultural, and institutional ties between the participating states.
