Foreign Minister meets with EU officials

Kathmandu, December 13 — Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba met with Commissioner for International Partnerships at the European Commission, Mr. Jozef Síkela, in Brussels on Thursday.

In the meeting with Síkela, the discussion focused on economic relations, development cooperation, and particularly Nepal’s request for the EU’s support for ensuring smooth, sustainable and irreversible graduation of Nepal from the LDC category, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release.

On the occasion, particularly, the Foreign Minister requested a longer transition period on trade-related concessions from the EU after Nepal’s graduation in 2026. The two sides also took stock of the processes for Nepal’s access to the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) after the LDC graduation.

The Foreign Minister also requested for lifting of the ban on Nepali airlines from the EU’s grey list. Also on Thursday, Mr. Maciej Popowski, Director-General of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations called on the Foreign Minister.

Nepal and the EU have enjoyed close, cordial and friendly relations ever since the establishment of Nepal’s diplomatic ties with the European Commission in 1974. The EU is an important development partner of Nepal.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two sides.