Strategy for cooperation with Bangladesh (2007-2013)

The European Union (EU) supports the sustainable development of Bangladesh. To this end, the partners adopt a cooperation strategy the implementation of which must take account of priority development needs.

ACT

The European Commission - Bangladesh Strategy Paper 2007-2013.

SUMMARY

Following the adoption of a new partnership agreement in 2001, the European Union (EU) and Bangladesh are cooperating in many areas. Primarily, EU intervention should support the country in reducing poverty and meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

All cooperation projects must incorporate the objectives of protecting gender equality, rural development, food safety, environmental protection and good public governance.

Short-term priorities

This strategy aims at establishing a balance between social development and economic development. The partners therefore identify priority areas for action:

• human and social development, through programmes to promote health, nutrition, access to education, decent work and the fight against poverty;
• good governance, particularly as regards the management of public finances, the judicial system and the effectiveness of the State;
• the protection of human rights, mainly to improve respect for the rights of women and children, but also of minority groups such as refugees and the disabled;
• economic and trade development, to enable the country to be integrated into the global trade system, to increase the competitiveness of enterprises and the diversification of economic production.

Long-term priorities

During the second phase of implementation of the strategy, a series of actions are to be carried out in the areas of:

• the environment and disaster management, the consequences of which mainly affect the poorest people;
• food security and nutrition, so as to permanently reduce malnutrition rates, particularly in rural areas.

Last updated: 14.07.2011