Kathmandu, March 28

The European Union has pledged to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth and social justice in Nepal.

Issuing a statement on the occasion of the anniversary of Rome Treaties, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Nepal, Rensje Teerink, said people-to-people relations between the EU and Nepal was at the core.

The EU on March 25 marked 60 years since the signing of Rome Treaties, the first step towards a united Europe.  “The 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties is an opportunity not only to reaffirm our commitment to the values and objectives on which the European project is founded but also to take pragmatic and ambitious steps forward,” read the statement.

The EU’s partnership with Nepal has deepened since the cooperation agreement was signed in 1994. The EU is Nepal’s biggest bilateral grant donor, covering a wide array of sectors — rural development, health, education, heritage, trade facilitation and reconstruction.

As is the case for all LLDC countries, Nepal enjoys zero tariff access to the EU markets under the ‘everything but arms’ scheme. Capacity building for farmers and other producers has greatly improved Nepal’s competitiveness.

Such close links and ties between countries are still of utmost importance, not least at a time when the world is going through a period of great uncertainty. The global balance of power is shifting and the foundations of a rules-based international order are too often being questioned.

“The EU is increasingly active as a global security provider and we will continue to be a strong, cooperative and reliable partner. We stand for multilateralism, for human rights and for international cooperation,”noted Teerink.

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