On Wednesday, 24 June, Bénin’s President Romuald Wadagni paid a working visit to the headquarters of European Union institutions in Brussels, Belgium, to lay the groundwork for a modernised partnership between his country and the EU, designed to tackle new development challenges.

He was received successively by the EU’s top leaders, including European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen.

During the working session with António Costa, both sides discussed the main pillars of bilateral cooperation, aiming to give fresh momentum to a relationship built on trust, stability and shared objectives, according to a statement from the Bénin presidency.

The discussions between Wadagni and Von Der Leyen focused on prospects for deepening the EU-Bénin partnership. The two senior officials reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating cooperation in several strategic sectors.

They identified three major priorities. The first concerns economic transformation and innovation, with emphasis on industrialisation, job creation, development of the Cotonou Port economic corridors, local processing of agricultural products, and vocational training for young people.

The second priority is territorial development and security in northern Bénin, which includes increased support for local communities to combat violent extremism through strengthening basic infrastructure and access to economic opportunities.

The third priority, sustainable finance, is linked to the Global Green Bond Initiative, a mechanism designed to facilitate financing for sustainable infrastructure in renewable energy, transport and agriculture.

Von Der Leyen stressed that “Bénin is a key partner of the European Union in West Africa. It is a relationship based on mutual trust and a shared desire to improve quality of life for everyone.”

For the Bénin presidency, strengthening the partnership also aims to position Bénin as a regional hub for growth, connectivity and investment in West Africa.