The willingness to strengthen the strategic partnership between the European Union and Mauritania was expressed by both parties during the visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to Nouakchott on Thursday 8 February for talks with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould El-Ghazouani, and a round table on green hydrogen with the private sector.
In addition to the investment package for clean energy and green hydrogen announced in October at the first Global Gateway Forum, involving a major project by the EU, France, Germany, Spain and the European Investment Bank (see EUROPE 13280/6, 13067/21), the aim was to discuss the concrete financing planned for 2024, such as a 1,400 km high-voltage line from Nouakchott to Néma with a solar power plant in Kiffa.
The partnership with this Sahel country in the fight against illegal immigration, security in a context of instability in the Sahel and sustainable development “to create jobs” was highlighted at the end of the meeting.
“We have discussed a roadmap and a declaration that will be finalised in the spring and will be accompanied by more than €210 million by the end of the year for migration management, humanitarian aid for refugees and investment in employment, skills and entrepreneurship”, announced Ursula von der Leyen.
In the area of security, Mrs von der Leyen announced an additional €22 million (i.e. a total of €40 million in 2024) “to finance the equipment of a new battalion to fight terrorism and secure the eastern border with Mali and the training of senior officers at the College of Defence”.
Pedro Sánchez said that a declaration on a partnership on migration and dialogue would be essential for prosperity, stability and security.
He announced a new Spanish commitment of €60 million over 4 years for development cooperation, €50 million in financial cooperation for a renewable energy project in cooperation with the World Bank, and a doubling of its humanitarian aid to deal with the influx of refugees.
The Mauritanian president stressed that his country, “often considered as a transit country, had become a destination country for migrants”, hosting 150,000 refugees. He spoke of a critical situation in terms of security and instability in the Sahel, which calls for “the mobilisation of all partners”.
He also stressed the “urgent need for a ceasefire” in the Middle East and “the need to mobilise in favour of a two-state solution”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)