Tone set for Chakwera, EU envoy meeting
President Lazarus Chakwera is today scheduled to meet a European Union (EU) delegation following a bi-annual political dialogue held on Monday between EU and Malawi Government officials in Lilongwe.
According to a joint communiqué issued by the EU press office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides discussed “a wide range of issues”, including corruption, good governance, human rights, democracy and environmental climate change management.
The Malawi delegation was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo while the EU delegation was led by EU Ambassador Rune Skinnebach.
Reads part of the statement: “Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to keeping a regular high-level political dialogue between them and to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights.”
The two sides also discussed international affairs focusing on the security situation in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), upcoming Sadc summit, and impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.
During the dialogue, the Malawi delegation also briefed the EU officials on performance of the 2021/22 National Budget and the forecast for the current financial year.
Tembo is quoted in the communiqué as having said the EU’s support in various sectors of the economy is providing the necessary springboard as the country moves towards achieving the Malawi 2063.
She said: “Malawi and the EU have a special relationship which spans over a long period of time. Under this partnership the EU is supporting Malawi in various sectors of the economy like education, climate change, agriculture, gender and governance, among others.”
On his part, Skinnebach said the bi-annual political dialogue demonstrated shared values, principles and interests of the EU and Malawi and that their partnership constitutes a formidable foundation for pursuing strategic priorities.
The Malawi Government delegation also comprised Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Eisenhower Mkaka and other senior government officials.
On the other hand, the EU delegation comprised German Ambassador Ralph Timmermann, Ambassador of Ireland Seamus O’Grady, French Ambassador Aurelien Le Chevallier, Swedish Ambassador Asa Pehrson, representative of the Government of Flanders in Malawi Sofie Greets and senior officials from EU diplomatic missions.
During celebrations of Europe Day in Lilongwe last month, Skinnebach cast doubt on the EU resuming direct budget support to Malawi soon over concerns of poor fight against corruption as well as debt and public finance management.
He said Malawi needs to address corruption because it is one of the underlying factors contributing to the country’s economic and social stagnation in recent years.
