Bangladesh, EU begin talks on landmark partnership deal targeted for 2026

Bangladesh and European Union (EU) have agreed to maintain a constructive and forward-looking dialogue with the goal of concluding a comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) by 2026.

Bangladesh and European Union (EU) have agreed to maintain a constructive and forward-looking dialogue with the goal of concluding a comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) by 2026.

This commitment was made during the first round of PCA negotiations held on Thursday at the EU headquarters in Brussels, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions covered a broad range of topics, including trade and investment, governance, climate action, digital transformation, and connectivity. Both sides emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation in these areas to respond effectively to global developments and emerging challenges.

The proposed PCA is set to provide a modern, wide-ranging legal framework for Bangladesh-EU relations, aimed at reinforcing long-term collaboration across multiple sectors. The EU noted that the agreement would serve as an inclusive and updated foundation for bilateral engagement, better suited to today’s geopolitical and economic realities.

Other critical areas of focus included health, education, agriculture, migration, skills development, sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian aid, counterterrorism, and peace and security. The talks reflected a shared ambition to build a more robust and meaningful partnership.

Highlighting the importance of the negotiations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Bangladesh is poised to become the first South Asian nation to sign a PCA with the European Union—marking a significant diplomatic milestone.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who served as the chief negotiator. The EU side was headed by Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service. Also present was Khandker Masudul Alam, Head of Mission of Bangladesh to the EU, alongside officials from relevant ministries and agencies, participating both in person and virtually.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Dhaka at a mutually convenient time.

Bangladesh and the EU launched their first formal political dialogue in November 2022 in Dhaka. That meeting marked a pivotal step in expanding cooperation into strategic and thematic areas, coinciding with the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2023.