Kenya, EU Talks: Security, Human Rights and Climate change to top list of cooperation under new framework

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 22- Kenya and the European Union are set to strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on crucial areas like promotion of governance and human rights, security and stability and climate change and the green transition.

This was agreed upon during talks between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the European Council President Charles Michel on Monday, in Brussels, Belgium.

Others areas of partnership according to a joint statement between Kenya and the European Union include plans to strengthen cooperation on issues of domestic, regional and global interest, such as regional and multilateral cooperation, democracy, including gender equality and the digital agenda, among others.

“Building on the past achievements and joint priorities, the new framework will create a dialogue between equals focusing on common policy aims. The policy discussions and outcomes of the Strategic Dialogue will inform potential European Union support to actions agreed with the Government of Kenya,” reads the joint statement.

In the statement, Kenya was hailed as a key player internationally at the United Nations, the African Union and other fora.

“Kenya and the European Union have sustained a consistent and long-term partnership over many years, and share multilateral and global aims such as combating climate change, and fostering peace and security,” reads the statement.

“Kenya and the European Union share a commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights, which are the basis for the strong relations.”

The thematic pillars of the dialogue are set to be developed and adapted over time, in accordance with Kenya’s and the European Union’s shared interests and agendas.

The statement indicated that the technical experts of the two sides are seized of the matter and a Roadmap for the implementation of the Strategic Dialogue is to be set out by the relevant services of the Government of Kenya and the European Union.

“Trade relations between Kenya and the European Union are an important underpinning of the Strategic Dialogue and the two partners will seek ways to strengthen their cooperation in this field, including through the implementation by Kenya and the European Union – based on the principle of “variable geometry” – of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the East African Community,” Kenya and EU said.

“Kenya and the European Union look forward to reinforcing and deepening their relationship within this new framework.”