15 Nov 2021

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s visit to Belgium yesterday - his first ever to the EU - did not just afford Botswana the opportunity to renew bilateral ties with Europe’s most powerful bloc, but also came with the promise of enhanced multilateral and reciprocal trade.

During the visit, President Masisi met with European Union Council president Mr Charles Michel, and the two agreed to take trade between the block and Botswana to the next level.

President Masisi told reporters after the meeting that the EU president was particularly heartened by Botswana’s development agenda, hence his undertaking to advocate further support for the country.

“We both have trade and political bilateral relations; we have a common understanding; we have a long-standing friendship and we’re here to strengthen it; to dialogue and to renew this friendship, as well as build a common understanding as touching other countries, with particular emphasis on how Botswana and the EU must work together,” he said.

The President said the meeting went smoothly in an open and amicable atmosphere and, “we did not struggle to find each other as we were of the same mind with regard to the issues before us.”

The two leaders also discussed their take on events in some parts of Africa.

On Botswana’s bid to host the secretariat of the Kimberly Process, the President said Mr Michel observed that Botswana’s reasons were compelling, more so the ultimate goal was to bring development to the country, which was in harmony with the EU’s vision of developing other countries.

“He did hint that as Europe they had a solidarity undertaking. However, our very solid reasons are in tandem with the EU’s vision to develop nations. So, failing to support Botswana would be akin to turning up their nose at its development agenda”.

President Masisi expressed hope that his  French counterpart, Mr Emmanuel Macron, who is set to succeed Mr Michel, would be of like mind. He said the EU president had promised Mr Macron was of similar conviction, and would certainly support Botswana’s development programme.

“So I believe things are looking good, particularly with regard to priority developmental issues which I emphasised, and towards whose achievement I sought the EU support,” he said.

Botswana has a robust and enduring bilateral and multilateral relationship with the EU, starting from independence. The relations are borne of common interests and commitment to shared values such as the belief in an open economy, democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

The basis of the ongoing relationship has been the Lome Convention (1975-1999) and Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). The CPA was signed in 2000 and will expire at the end of  this month hence the need to renew the relations.

The CPA entails cooperation in the economic, political and social fields. Botswana has over the years benefitted from EU funding and technical assistance. The assistance in particular, helped among others; to build capacity in the public service, establish local government structures, build rural roads, and provide clean drinking water, education, and health services. Botswana also exports beef to the EU under the Cotonou Trade Preferences, giving the country significant preferential access to the bloc’s market. Ends