Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The European Union and The Gambia on Tuesday reaffirmed their expanding partnership on democracy, development, migration, and regional security during celebrations marking Europe Day in Banjul.
The event, held at the Ocean Bay Resort, brought together government officials, diplomats, development partners, and members of the international community to celebrate ties between the EU and The Gambia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gambian Foreign Affairs Minister Sering Modou Njie said relations between The Gambia and the EU have evolved beyond a traditional donor-recipient arrangement into a more strategic and mutually beneficial partnership.
“Today, the partnership between The Gambia and the European Union has evolved beyond the traditional donor-recipient relationship into a mature and strategic partnership guided by shared responsibilities, common values, mutual interests, trust, and a shared vision for the future,” Njie said.
He described the EU as one of The Gambia’s “most important and reliable partners,” citing support in governance reforms, transitional justice, infrastructure, energy, education, climate resilience, and youth empowerment.
According to the minister, EU-backed initiatives such as the Youth Empowerment Project have delivered significant benefits, particularly for women and young people across the country.
Njie also emphasized the need for continued cooperation on migration, stressing that migration management should remain centered on human dignity and shared responsibility.
“Migration governance is mainly about people, and hence, its management must continue to be guided by partnership, shared responsibility, respect for human rights, and protection of migrants’ rights and dignity,” he stated.
The minister further called for stronger Africa-Europe collaboration in tackling terrorism, cyber threats, human trafficking, irregular migration, and transnational organized crime.
“We must continue to work together to secure a peaceful, prosperous, and green future for our peoples and future generations,” he added.
EU Ambassador to The Gambia, Immaculada Roca i Cortés, said growing global instability has made international partnerships more important than ever.
“Europe’s security is a shared security,” the ambassador said. “By working with our partners, like The Gambia, we build a safer world for all.”
Reflecting on the significance of Europe Day, she noted that the European Union was founded on the belief that cooperation among nations could prevent conflict and guarantee lasting peace.
“Have the core principles and values, democracy, rule of law, good governance, human rights, multilateralism, strong cooperation, and shared prosperity, lost their relevance? Certainly not,” she said. “They are more needed than ever.”
The ambassador praised The Gambia’s growing reputation on the international stage, particularly its role in promoting human rights and international justice.
“The Gambia has established itself as a beacon of democracy and human rights, an example for the wider region and the world,” she stated, referencing the country’s engagement at the Human Rights Council, its pursuit of justice for the Rohingya people, and ongoing transitional justice efforts.
She also commended The Gambia’s position on international sanctions and its stance against the Russian “shadow fleet.”
On development cooperation, the ambassador highlighted ongoing EU-funded projects in youth employment, climate-smart agriculture, education, electricity expansion, and water supply.
“For the European Union, investing in energy is investing in people,” she said, noting that more than 800,000 people have benefited from EU-supported electricity projects in the country.
Roca i Cortés further announced continued cooperation with France on a major water project aimed at improving services in the Greater Banjul Area and expanding access to hundreds of thousands of residents.
Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Africa-EU cooperation in trade, peacebuilding, education, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
“The true strength of the Africa-EU partnership lies ultimately in our people,” Minister Njie said.
The event concluded with a toast celebrating continued friendship and cooperation between The Gambia and the European Union.
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