(Phnom Penh)

On Wednesday morning, 18^th May 2022, at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), the Consultation Meeting on Joint European Strategy for Development Cooperation with Cambodia 2021-2027 between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the European Union was organized. This Consultation Meeting was co-chaired by His Excellency Chhieng Yanara, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary General of the Cambodian Rehabilitation and Development Board of the Council for Development of Cambodia (CRDB/CDC), and Her Excellency Carmen Moreno, EU Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia. This meeting was attended by high-ranking and technical government officials from 29 line ministries and institutions as well as representatives from 10 European Partners countries, including H.E. Jacques Pellet, Ambassador of France, current Presidency of the EU Council, and H.E. Martin Vavra, Ambassador of the Czech Republic. The main purpose of this meeting is to discuss on the 2021-2027 Joint European Strategy for Development Cooperation with Cambodia.

H.E. Mr. Chhieng Yanara mentioned that he “welcomes the Strategy, which promotes European policy coherence and ensures greater impact of European Partners’ cooperation in Cambodia”. “The new strategy is fully aligned with Cambodia’s Rectangular Strategy IV and with European Partners’ global priorities, including promoting the green transition, enhanced multilateralism and the respect of a rule based global order”, said H.E. Mr. Jacques Pellet, French Ambassador to Cambodia, in his opening address. “The new Strategy will contribute to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals and will support Cambodia in its efforts to achieve higher connectivity with ASEAN, as well as improved regional and global integration”, he added.

Through this strategy, the EU will focus on 6 priorities including:

1. Democratic accountability
2. Democratic participation
3. Human development
4. Competitiveness in the regional and global marketplaces
5. Green development, and
6. Cultural heritage

To implement this strategy, the European Partners identified a total budget of around EUR 1,432.63 million, focused on strengthening socio-economic recovery as well as crosscutting issues of human rights, inclusion, gender equality, women and youth empowerment, climate and environmental sustainability. The Joint European Strategy also identifies entry-points to advance digitalisation and assist the Royal Government to ensure compatibility, sustainability of ICT solutions and alignment with relevant international norms and standards, particularly regarding data protection.

In her closing remarks, H.E. Ms. Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union, spoke about the relevance of the “Joint European Strategy” and its importance for the implementation of broader European Union strategies in Cambodia, such as the Indo-Pacific Strategy or the Global Gateway Strategy.  The “JES will support the European partners and Cambodia, its Government, civil society and private sector, to enhance their connectivity in a sustainable way, with the highest social and environmental standards”.  H.E. Mr. Chhieng Yanara, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary General of CRDB/CDC, expressed his sincere appreciation to the European Union and the European Partners for their contribution to the development of Cambodia.