On an official visit to the EU institutions in Brussels on Thursday 16 March, President of the Republic of The Gambia Adama Barrow received assurance of the EU's support to the continuation of his country's democratic process, which has just embarked upon a new era (see EUROPE 11722).
In support of the democratic transition, an EU election observation mission has been deployed for the country's parliamentary elections on 6 April. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the EU was ready, in cooperation with its international partners, "to look into support to security sector reform and to the ECOMIG mission" [the ECOWAS mission in The Gambia], whose mandate was extended by three months in February.
Barrow and Mogherini agreed to deepen their cooperation to fight irregular migration to the EU. "Both sides agreed that creating employment and domestic perspectives for youth was a priority", a press release stated that was published by the European External Action Service on Thursday evening.
European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica announced upcoming budgetary support to the government of €150 million to develop the state's capacities and support reforms. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)