Brussels, 5 April 2024
From tomorrow until 9 April, Commissioner Sinkevičius is travelling to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Uganda to discuss cooperation in environmental protection, notably regarding deforestation, sustainable cocoa and coffee production, sustainable management of natural resources, and partnership agreements to support inclusive growth.
Tomorrow, the Commissioner will be in Côte d’Ivoire where he will first meet Robert Beudgré Mambé, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire. They will notably discuss the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation as well as the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) recently signed between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire. On 7 April, the Commissioner will launch a new Corporate Social Responsibility contract.
On 8 April, Commissioner Sinkevičius will be in Ghana where he will meet representatives of the cacao sector to discuss traceability in cocoa production and trade. This will be followed by a working lunch with Francis Manu-Adabor, Chair of Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources. He will finally meet with Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to discuss in particular illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
On 9 April, the Commissioner will travel to Uganda. He will start his visit by meeting Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda; Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries; Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment; and Francis Mwebesa, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. The Commissioner, President Museveni and Minister Cheptoris will then launch the €40 million fund for EU Forest Partnerships projects. He will then discuss the EU Deforestation Regulation with representatives of the private sector and the Ugandan Coffee Development Authority.
Source – EU Commission (via email)