EU urges reforms to continue as Bangladesh nears PCA signing

Ambassador Michael Miller meets foreign minister to discuss PCA signing and judicial reforms

The European Union has urged Bangladesh’s new government to continue reforms initiated under the interim administration, particularly in judicial processes, commercial courts and migration management.

EU Ambassador Michael Miller met with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister Obaed Islam in on Monday.

“We look forward to the putting in place of judicial reforms, of the commercial courts, of work to introduce regularity into migration management,” Miller said after the meetings.

“These are all particularly important issues for us. We are looking to exploit the full potential of EU–Bangladesh relations,” he said.

He described the EU as “Bangladesh’s most reliable partner, the biggest commercial partner, the biggest investor and a very significant provider of assistance and a very significant political partner for this new elected government”.

“No issues were off the table. We talked about the very broad nature of EU–Bangladesh relations: politics, security, trade, development, humanitarian affairs, migration and so on,” Miller said.

He added that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was “very near finalisation” and could be signed “in the nearest possible future”.

On fundamental freedoms, he stressed: “Of course in our relationship with Bangladesh the respect for fundamental freedoms is very prominent. So yes we did touch on all the issues that you have mentioned.”

Earlier in the day, Miller also met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and discussed continued EU support for the Election Commission in conducting national and local polls.