EU welcomes Namibia’s signing of Samoa agreement

THE European Union (EU) has welcomed Namibia in signing the New Partnership Agreement between itself and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), also known as the Samoa Agreement.

This was announced by the deputy head of mission to the EU’s delegation in Namibia, Gosia Lachut, in a statement released this week.

EU ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins says the Samoa Agreement provides a solid foundation and continuity for a longstanding partnership.

“We are very pleased to see Namibia join the large and diverse group of African, Caribbean and Pacific states in a new partnership with the EU and EU member states,“ she says.

“We are looking forward to enhancing our cooperation in areas of common interest, from the global fight against climate change and politics and security, to the promotion of inclusive green growth,” Martins says.

She says the EU is committed to focusing on the implementation of the EU-Namibia strategic partnership on green hydrogen and critical raw material value chains through the Global Gateway Instrument and Team Europe Initiative to generate more jobs and prosperity.

Namibia signed the agrement on 18 December in Brussels, Belgium.

The EU-OACPS agreement, signed in Samoa on 15 November, succeeds the Cotonou Agreement.

“ It is the largest and most comprehensive partnership agreement worldwide, bringing together states from four continents – the EU, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific states, to provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation around shared priorities and interests in multilateral and regional issues,” Lachut says.