The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, held a meeting today, Monday 27 October, with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, during the latter’s first bilateral visit to Spain as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad. The aim was to strengthen political dialogue, review the state of bilateral relations, and follow up on the First High-Level Meeting between the two countries, held on 16 July in Nouakchott.
Minister Albares highlighted that this visit comes at a great moment for the bilateral relation, following the qualitative leap represented by the last High-Level Meeting (HLM), and that Mauritania is a strategic partner for Spain, and for the EU, both bilaterally and regionally. Both ministers welcomed the positive results of cooperation on migration, both in combating irregular migration and in the field of circular migration.
Albares reiterated Spain’s wish to further strengthening and advancing cooperation in other areas of interest such as energy, development cooperation, security, and the promotion of the Spanish language, following the official inauguration by both ministers of the Cervantes Institute extension in Nouakchott. In the economic and trade sphere, both agreed that there remains significant potential for growth and stressed the importance of intensifying the momentum generated by initiatives such as the creation of the Mauritania-Spain Business Council (CAMES) or the holding of the Business Forum within the framework of the last HLM.
The ministers also focused on agricultural and fisheries cooperation, as well as on the delicate situation in the Sahel, where Mauritania plays an essential stabilising role; and on the prospects and scenarios surrounding the Palestinian conflict, following the peace agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh and subsequent developments.
EU-Mauritania relation
Minister Albares also highlighted the strategic importance of the joint partnership between the European Union and Mauritania, expressing Spain’s determination to continue contributing actively to the strengthening of that relationship.
In the Mediterranean context, and in the framework of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, he recalled Mauritania’s valuable participation in the Union for the Mediterranean and the need to ensure its voice is heard in the new phase now opening for Euro-Mediterranean relations with the preparation of the new Mediterranean Pact.
For images of the event, click
here.
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