On Monday 23 March, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, announced the mobilisation of €66 million in grants and €221 million in low-interest loans for a series of new digital, agricultural and health projects in Nigeria. An agreement in the field of science and innovation under the Horizon Europe research programme was also announced.
“Nigeria is determined to translate today’s commitments into tangible outcomes that improve lives, strengthen democracy and secure a sustainable future for generations to come”, said Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, at a press conference in Abuja.
Migration. The partners also updated their cooperation on migration. A new readmission agreement aims to “ensure safe and dignified returns of those Nigerians who can no longer stay in European Union”, said Ms Kallas in Abuja on Monday afternoon. “Even on sensitive issues, trust delivers results”, she welcomed.
Regional stability. Faced with the security challenges in West Africa (see EUROPE 13715/19), the EU High Representative also reiterated the EU’s support for the defence of a rules-based international order, the partnership with ECOWAS and the fight against terrorism.
The EU and Nigeria held their first ‘EU-Nigeria Peace, Security and Defence Dialogue’ on 18 January (see EUROPE 13812/22). They will be holding their 10th Business Forum on 25 June. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)