KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 5

Newly appointed Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, presented her credentials to President Ramchandra Paudel today at a special function organised at the presidential office.

'I am very happy and honoured to serve as the EU Ambassador to Nepal and I look forward to meeting Nepali people from all walks of life,' Ambassador Lorenzo said.

'I will be working closely with the Government of Nepal and other Nepali institutions, civil society, private sector, media, international partners and all relevant political, social and economic stakeholders.'

'I arrive at a particularly important moment in the history of EU-Nepal relations as we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations next year. Together, we will continue to jointly address urgent global challenges such as climate change, global peace and security and threats to rulebased international order and multilateralism,' Ambassador Lorenzo added.

The EU is a longstanding and reliable development partner that has been supporting Nepal in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in graduating from LDC status in 2026 and in improving Nepal's resilience to the adverse effects of climate change.

The partnership with the Government of Nepal has focused on three priorities, including inclusive green growth, human capital development and good governance.

The total assistance provided for 2021-2024 amounts to 209 million euros (around NPR 29.55 billion).

'The EU and Nepal share the same firm commitment to universal values and the fundamental principles of the UN charter. As we strengthen our partnership, we shall continue to support a rules-based multilateral order with the UN at its core with a view to ensure that every human being enjoys the security and rights we sometimes take for granted.

We are united in designing a sustainable future for our people and Nepal can count on us to remain a trustworthy and reliable partner,' Ambassador Lorenzo said.

The European Union is a regional integration organisation with strong democratic institutions and 27 member states which promotes peace and security, prosperity, multilateralism, democracy and human rights. It also aims for a sustainable and shared approach to connectivity, digital transition and climate change.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 6, 2023, of The Himalayan Times