It responds to need for a "more strategic, comprehensive" basis for relations
The Bangladesh-European Union Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), 'initialed' in Brussels on April 20, represents a significant step in strengthening relations between Bangladesh and the EU beyond their long-standing trade ties.
The PCA establishes a comprehensive structure for cooperation in areas including trade and investment, climate action, migration, governance, human rights, and sustainable development. It reflects Bangladesh's growing economic and geopolitical importance and its transition toward developing-country status, while also aligning with the EU's broader Indo-Pacific strategy.
Once formally signed and ratified, the agreement is expected to deepen political dialogue, diversify cooperation, and create new opportunities for economic partnership between Bangladesh and the EU.
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.
The fifth round of negotiations between Bangladesh and the European Union on the framework agreement was held in January this year. Through the negotiations, both sides finalised the text of the agreement.
The negotiations on the proposed PCA started with the explanatory meeting between Bangladesh and the EU in Dhaka in November 2024.
Since then, the two sides engaged in five rounds of discussions and several technical meetings in Dhaka and Brussels, both physically and virtually.
More Strategic, Comprehensive
Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas has said the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Bangladesh is about prosperity for both sides through trade and investment, digital trade, customs cooperation, intellectual property rights, education and training, and science and technology.
"PCA is rooted in shared commitment to international law and norms. It foresees greater cooperation on climate change, counterterrorism, migration, trafficking, money laundering, drugs, organised crime, and crisis management," she said on the occasion of the 'initialling' of the PCA.
Kallas, also EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, thanked both the negotiating teams, in particular, the chief negotiators whose efforts have been really solid.
Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam and Deputy Managing Director of the EU's Asia and Pacific Division at the European External Action Service Paola Pampaloni 'initialled' the PCA on behalf of Bangladesh and the EU respectively.
Kallas looks forward to signing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in the near future once necessary formalities, including legal scrubbing are completed and to working together with Bangladesh to make these commitments a reality.
She said it responds to the need for a "more strategic and comprehensive" basis for the Bangladesh-EU relations, because the existing bilateral agreement dates back to 1994. "It also reflects our shared ambition to deepen cooperation and build resilience."
Kallas welcomed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman to Brussels and appreciated his visit so early in his tenure.
The Foreign Minister was joined by Humaiun Kobir, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Foreign Affairs.
The visit marked a significant milestone in Bangladesh-EU relations as the two sides initialled the PCA, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition to Adviser Humaiun Kobir, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh was accompanied by Nahida Sobhan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to Geneva; and Khandker Masudul Alam, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Belgium and Head of Mission to the EU during the meetings.
Kallas congratulated the Foreign Minister and the new government in Bangladesh, especially as the government tackles the ambitious reforms, not least through the Global Gateway and the response to the ongoing Rohingya crisis is also a vital pillar to their ties.
"I am pleased that you have come to Brussels for this very positive occasion, the initialling of the agreement," Kallas said, adding that this marks a significant step forward in their relations.
Ambitious Framework
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.
Bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the EU 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.
Talks on FTA, IPA
Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) highlighted the importance of preferential market access, and the launch of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (IPA).
The issues were discussed during a meeting between Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas held in Brussels.
The discussions covered a wide range of areas, including political, economic, and development cooperation-focusing on trade and investment, Indo-Pacific cooperation, migration, skills development, labour standards, and the Rohingya crisis.
Both sides highlighted Bangladesh's post-LDC transition at the meeting which Dhaka described as fruitful.
State of Democratic
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur briefed European Union (EU) High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas on Bangladesh's recent democratic developments and on the government's ongoing reform, reconstruction, and development efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
He thanked Kallas for sending a strong election observation mission to Bangladesh during the recent parliamentary elections.
Kallas highly appreciated Bangladesh for very successful and credible elections, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both sides underscored the importance of deepening cooperation across all possible domains, including in trade and investment, regional cooperation, migration and mobility, and humanitarian issues.
The Foreign Minister highlighted predictable market access as a key priority of Bangladesh, and stressed the need to move toward stronger and more durable economic partnership arrangements with the EU.
Addressing the media, both sides described the agreement as a forward-looking and comprehensive framework that will elevate Bangladesh-EU relations across the political, economic, development, and security domains, while strengthening cooperation on regional and global issues of shared interest.
During their meeting at the European External Action Service Headquarters, the two leaders appreciated the longstanding and trusted partnership between Bangladesh and the European Union and reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing this relationship.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur thanked the EU for its support for Rohingya humanitarian operations and sought their continued engagement for a sustainable solution of the protracted problem.
Bangladesh-Belgium Relations
The Foreign Minister held a bilateral meeting with Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of Belgium.
The meeting reviewed the state of Bangladesh-Belgium relations and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, innovation, and multilateral engagement.
The two sides agreed to hold the 3rd Bangladesh -Belgium Consultations in Brussels later this year.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur reiterated Bangladesh's desire to further deepen bilateral ties with Belgium as a valued partner.
He encouraged greater engagement by Belgian businesses and institutions in Bangladesh, particularly in areas where Belgium has recognized strengths, including logistics, port management, biotech and pharmaceuticals, technology, and water management.
The two sides also exchanged views on migration and mobility, visa and consular matters, and the Rohingya humanitarian situation.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening engagement on the multilateral plane.
The Foreign Minister also met Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, and discussed expanding Bangladesh-EU cooperation in research, science, technology, innovation, and start-ups.
The discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration under Horizon Europe, as well as in artificial intelligence, digital innovation, energy efficiency and sustainable development. They also discussed developing a framework for sustained future engagement.
