Maldives and EU Hold Inaugural Partnership Dialogue

The Maldives and the European Union have held their first official Partnership Dialogue, marking a new phase in bilateral relations between the two sides.

The high-level talks were held in the Maldives and build on the annual Senior Officials’ Meetings that have taken place since 2020. The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya and Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service.

The dialogue follows the Maldives’ signing of the Samoa Agreement in July 2024, which elevated engagement with the European Union into a structured partnership framework.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across a broad range of areas, including democratic governance, human rights, climate action, maritime and regional security, trade, fisheries and people-to-people exchanges.

The European Union and the Maldives underlined the importance of upholding democratic values and fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and opinion, and ensuring space for a vibrant civil society. Discussions also addressed recent political, economic and social developments in both jurisdictions, with a focus on infrastructure development, sound financial management, anti-corruption efforts, digital transformation, education and economic diversification.

The Maldives expressed appreciation for the European Union’s continued support for democratic processes, particularly through recommendations made by EU Election Observation Follow-up Missions, the most recent of which concluded in November 2025. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing support in these areas and encouraged the Maldives to meet its obligations as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Security cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. The Maldives acknowledged European Union support through training and regional maritime initiatives, including the CRIMARIO programme aimed at safeguarding key maritime routes. Both sides identified practical steps to deepen security cooperation in the coming years.

Economic discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade and improving market access for Maldivian fish products within the European Union. The two sides also exchanged views on tariff barriers and reforms intended to attract investment and support sustainable, long-term growth.

Climate resilience and environmental protection were also key themes. Both parties expressed their commitment to finalising a financing agreement under the European Union’s Annual Action Programme 2025 for a community-based mangrove protection and rehabilitation project. The agreement is expected to allocate an additional four million euros towards mangrove conservation in the Maldives.

The European Union highlighted its offer of Earth observation data through the Copernicus satellite system and outlined new programmes to counter the misuse of technology by terrorist and criminal groups, including efforts to prevent violent extremism online. It also reaffirmed its engagement under the Global Gateway Strategy to promote sustainable investment.

The Maldives called for its inclusion among countries exempt from Schengen visa requirements. Regional and global developments in the Indo-Pacific were also discussed, with both sides reaffirming their support for effective multilateralism and a rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its core.

The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to translating discussions into tangible outcomes and with consideration of holding the second Maldives–European Union Partnership Dialogue in Brussels in 2027.