Mauritius and EU to reinforce cooperation across key sectors

A delegation led by the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Oskar Benedikt, met with the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, this evening at the Treasury Building in Port Louis. The meeting aimed to brief the Prime Minister on the outcomes of the second Mauritius-EU Partnership Dialogue, held earlier in the day, and to discuss avenues for further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The delegation comprised the Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius to the French Republic, Mr Alexis Loyer; the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Mauritius, Mrs Romana Königsbrun; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Mauritius, Mrs Lot De Bruyne; the Ambassador of Poland to Mauritius, Mr Marcin Kubiak; the Ambassador of Finland to Mauritius, Mr Pekka Juhani Metso; the Ambassador of Spain to Mauritius, Mr José Manuel Pascual García; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Mauritius, Mr Tomáš Uličný; as well as representatives of Germany and Ireland.

In a statement following the meeting, Ambassador Benedikt underscored the importance of deepening Mauritius-EU relations, with discussions centred on consolidating existing partnerships and advancing initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development, economic growth and resilience.

He highlighted plans to organise a business forum next year to attract high-value investment from European companies, with a view to strengthening economic ties and creating new opportunities for Mauritius. He also announced that a new agreement in the fisheries sector is expected to be signed in December, with potential benefits for the local fishing community.

The Ambassador also referred to an international commitment concerning the maintenance of fee-free shipping routes, highlighting the importance of maritime connectivity to international trade and economic development. He further reaffirmed the European Union’s willingness to support Mauritius in addressing challenges in the water sector, taking into account the country’s water supply constraints.

Mauritius, he emphasised, will benefit from grant funding and the sharing of technical expertise from the EU to support initiatives in renewable energy, coastal resilience and water management. According to him, these areas of cooperation reflect the shared commitment of Mauritius and the EU to advancing sustainable development and strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to pressing environmental and infrastructure challenges.

Ambassador Benedikt also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in the modernisation of the port, drawing on the experience of European countries that have undertaken similar projects. Such cooperation, he said, will contribute to enhancing port infrastructure, strengthening operational efficiency and reinforcing Mauritius’ position as a strategic maritime and logistics hub in the Indian Ocean.

Emphasising the longstanding relationship between Mauritius and EU, he noted that cooperation has been reinforced the field of maritime security, prevention of piracy and the fight against drug trafficking, with the shared objective of safeguarding shipping routes and ensuring the security of maritime activities.

Mr Benedikt further reiterated the support of the EU in initiatives aimed at strengthening civil society and promoting social inclusion, including the reintegration of former prisoners into society and the greater inclusion of persons with disabilities.

19 October 2026

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Topics: Bilateral cooperation