BRUSSELS, Monday, April 20, 2026 (WNP): The European Union and Bangladesh on Monday marked a significant milestone in their relations with the initialling of a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening political, economic and strategic cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion, Kaja Kallas welcomed Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud Rahman to Brussels, describing his early visit in office as a positive step toward deepening bilateral engagement.

Kallas congratulated the Bangladeshi government on its reform agenda, highlighting efforts under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative as well as Dhaka’s continued response to the Rohingya crisis, which she termed a vital pillar of EU-Bangladesh relations.

She said the agreement represents a major step forward, noting that the existing bilateral framework dates back to 1994 and no longer reflects the evolving scope of cooperation between the two sides.

“The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement responds to the need for a more strategic and comprehensive basis for our relations,” Kallas said, adding that it reflects a shared ambition to enhance cooperation and build resilience.

The agreement is anchored in a mutual commitment to international law and envisages expanded collaboration in key areas, including climate change, counterterrorism, migration, trafficking, money laundering, drug control, organised crime, and crisis management.

It also aims to boost economic ties by promoting trade and investment, digital commerce, customs cooperation, intellectual property rights, as well as partnerships in education, training, science and technology.

Kallas expressed appreciation for the negotiating teams on both sides, particularly the chief negotiators, for their efforts in finalizing the draft agreement.

She said the EU looks forward to formally signing the agreement once all necessary procedures, including legal review, are completed, and to working closely with Bangladesh to translate its commitments into concrete outcomes.

The development underscores a growing partnership between the EU and Bangladesh, with both sides seeking to expand cooperation across a broad range of sectors in the years ahead.