The Maldives and the European Union have held their first official Partnership Dialogue, marking a new phase in bilateral engagement following the Maldives’ accession to the Samoa Agreement and the formalisation of a structured dialogue framework between the two sides.

The high-level talks were hosted in Malé on 9 February and brought together senior officials from both the Maldivian Government and the European External Action Service. The meeting reviewed the overall state of Maldives–EU relations and explored avenues to deepen cooperation across political, economic and security sectors.

Discussions covered democratic governance, human rights and the protection of civic space, with both sides underscoring the importance of freedom of expression and the role of civil society. The Maldives acknowledged European Union support to democratic processes, including follow-up initiatives linked to recommendations made by EU election observation missions, while the EU reaffirmed its intention to continue technical and institutional assistance in this area.

Talks also addressed economic and development priorities, including infrastructure development, fiscal management, anti-corruption measures, digital transformation, education and economic diversification. The two sides exchanged views on reforms aimed at improving the investment climate and supporting long-term, sustainable growth.

Maritime security featured prominently, with the Maldives noting the practical support provided through EU-backed regional initiatives, including capacity-building and maritime route protection programmes. Both parties identified scope to expand cooperation on security matters in the coming years, particularly in areas linked to regional stability and maritime safety.

On trade, discussions focused on opportunities to improve market access for Maldivian fisheries products in the European Union and to address barriers affecting bilateral trade. The Maldives highlighted ongoing reforms intended to attract foreign investment, while both sides explored options to enhance commercial cooperation.

Climate resilience and environmental protection were also central to the dialogue. The European Union confirmed continued support for initiatives related to biodiversity conservation and community-based environmental protection. Both sides expressed intent to proceed with a proposed financing agreement expected to allocate an additional EUR 4 million for community-led mangrove protection and rehabilitation projects in the Maldives under the EU’s 2025 Annual Action Programme.

The EU also outlined support measures linked to digital security, including programmes to counter the misuse of technology by extremist and criminal networks, and offered technical cooperation through its satellite-based earth observation systems to support environmental monitoring and disaster preparedness. Continued engagement under the EU’s Global Gateway framework was also discussed.

During the talks, the Maldives raised the issue of Schengen visa exemptions and called for consideration of facilitation measures for Maldivian travellers. The two sides further exchanged views on developments in the Indo-Pacific region and reaffirmed their support for multilateral cooperation and a rules-based international order.

The dialogue concluded with both parties agreeing to pursue concrete outcomes from the discussions and to continue strengthening the partnership through sustained engagement. Preliminary discussions were also held on convening the next Maldives–EU Partnership Dialogue in Brussels in 2027.

The talks were co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya and Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service.