European Union Cooperation and Burundi

Burundi and the European maintain excellent relations of friendship and cooperation. This cooperation, which is characterized by longevity, diversity and dynamism, from the eve of Burundi’s independence; because Burundi was among the very first beneficiaries of European support with EDF commitments covering the period from 1959 to 1965.

For H.E Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, Europe Day for the year 2022 is celebrated when the European Union took the happy decision on february 8, 2022 to lift the suspension of its direct financial support to the Burundian Government. This decision is another good ingredient for warming up relations with this important partner and with its Member States. This willingness of the parties was reaffirmed on february 17 and 18, 2022 in Brussels during the talks of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Burundi with the President of the European Council and with the European Commissioner in charge of international partnerships, on the sidelines of the African Union – European Union Summit.

According to His Excellency Albert SHINGIRO, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Burundi and the European Union will also continue the political dialogue initiated in a new spirit of trust and mutual understanding, because they want the partnership to be based on sincerity, mutual respect and convergence of interests as is in the content of the Final Declaration of the AU-EU Brussels Summit where the leaders of the AU and the EU reaffirmed their adherence to a common vision of a renewed partnership to build a common future. The common vision aims to consolidate the partnership for solidarity, security, peace and sustainable economic development.

 The renewed partnership is based in particular on the recognition of history, human ties, respect for sovereignty, mutual responsibility and respect, shared values, equality between partners and reciprocal commitments both at protection and defense of common values ​​and at the level of the development and prosperity of citizens and future generations.