The fifth and final round of negotiations between Bangladesh and the European Union on the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation, popularly known as PCA, will begin in Dhaka today (Wednesday).
The agreement is expected to shape the future of Bangladesh-EU relations by providing a formal structure for dialogue and deeper engagement.
Md Nazrul Islam, secretary (bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Bangladesh negotiation team, told TIMES of Bangladesh that the talks are nearing completion.
“We have almost finalised the agreement. There are only a few points of disagreement left, which we hope to resolve in the final round of negotiations,” he said.
The EU delegation will be led by Paola Pampaloni, acting managing director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS). The two-day negotiation round will conclude in Sylhet.
Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to negotiate such a framework agreement with the EU. However, the EU has similar partnership agreements with several ASEAN countries, including Thailand and Malaysia.
Negotiations with Bangladesh began in April this year, followed by a second round in July and third and fourth rounds in October. In addition, seven to eight technical-level meetings have been held with various stakeholders during the negotiation process.
Once negotiations are concluded, the agreement will undergo vetting and approval by the Cabinet. Officials expect the approval process to take one to two months.
The agreement consists of eight broad chapters along with an annex.
The first chapter outlines general principles, while the second focuses on political dialogue, human rights, governance, foreign policy, and related issues.
The third chapter covers justice, freedom, security, and legal cooperation. The fourth chapter addresses trade-related matters, including investment, government procurement, and other economic issues.
The fifth chapter deals with economic cooperation and sustainable development, focusing on policy coordination. The sixth chapter covers cooperation in health, education, media, and culture.
The seventh chapter outlines financial cooperation, and the final chapter establishes the institutional mechanisms for implementing the agreement.
The annex includes provisions on customs cooperation and seven additional legal instruments, including the TRIPS Agreement and the Madrid Agreement.
