EU and Bangladesh pave the way for a closer partnership and more cooperation

Today, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, and Bangladesh's Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, initialled a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), marking a major step forward in strengthening bilateral relations between the European Union and Bangladesh, a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

The PCA offers a comprehensive and ambitious framework for enhanced political, economic, trade and strategic cooperation, grounded in shared commitments to democracy, human rights, peace and security, climate action and sustainable development. Comprising 82 articles, the PCA will enhance collaboration in areas such as political dialogue, trade and investment, energy, transport, agriculture, migration, security, finance, maritime affairs and people-to-people exchanges.

The EU and Bangladesh have been in talks since late 2024, finalising negotiations early this year. The initialling of the text opens the way for formal signature and ratification by both parties in the near future after finalisation of the procedure by the respective authorities, to make these new commitments a reality. Bangladesh is the first South Asian country to conclude a modern PCA with the European Union. Once it enters into force, the PCA will replace the 2001 Cooperation Agreement.

Bilateral ties between the EU and Bangladesh span over 50 years, with development cooperation and trade as major facets of relations. The EU is Bangladesh's largest trading partner and two-way trade now exceeds €22 billion. Since 2001, Bangladesh benefits from the EU's 'Everything but Arms' (EBA) arrangement, which grants duty-free, quota-free access for all exports, except arms and ammunition.

(For more information: Anouar El Anouni - Tel: +32 2 291 35 80; Sophie Lai - Tel: +32 2 296 92 82)