Consolidation of the bilateral partnership between the European Union and Senegal

Ms Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, was on an official visit to Senegal on 15 and 16 October 2024. She was accompanied by the Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Ms Eva Granados Galiano. This mission, in Team Europe format, was an opportunity to listen to the priorities of the new government at a time when the new public policy framework “Senegal 2050” has just been presented by the authorities. This mission also demonstrated the sign of the European Union’s (EU) support for Senegal, for youth training and employment, and for Senegalese economic growth.

The Commissioner was received by the President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, with whom she discussed the government’s priorities as set out in the “Senegal 2050” programme, the objectives of which are aligned with the priorities of the European Global Gateway strategy. President Faye and Commissioner Urpilainen also discussed the situation in the Sahel and the EU’s support for an increased role and place in multilateral governance bodies, and reaffirmed their intention to further strengthen the EU-Senegal partnership.

She also met with the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, and the Minister of Local Authorities, Development and Regional Planning. The results of the EU partnership with Senegal in the key sectors of the Global Gateway were at the heart of the discussions.

The Commissioner announced two new initiatives in favour of Senegal:

The launch of the MAV+ (Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies) project of €25 million, which aims to support the national recovery plan for the pharmaceutical sector.
A new envelope of €30 million to support the Senegalese government in its efforts to prevent irregular migration. During her stay, the Commissioner also visited sustainable infrastructure such as the urban and industrial water treatment plant in Hann Bay.

She was also able to see the MADIBA Vaccinopole and the Port and Logistics Training Centre. During her visit to the training centre, the Commissioner spoke with young learners benefiting from the FIT! initiative. Senegal, which aims to strengthen the provision of vocational training, particularly in the context of the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Dakar in 2026. These achievements contribute to economic diversification, youth training and job creation and improve the living environment of the population. Ms Urpilainen also launched the EU’s communication campaign for young people on the Global Gateway strategy.

Team Europe supports Senegal in its quest for green, inclusive and territorially balanced endogenous growth for the benefit of the population. In general, all current and future Global Gateway investments in Senegal are fully in line with the authorities’ political agenda. The EU supports Senegal in its efforts to achieve food sovereignty, particularly through the development of priority agricultural value chains. The aim is to develop Senegal’s potential to achieve food sovereignty in order to make the agricultural economy profitable for young people and a creator of jobs. For example, the EU has facilitated the creation of more than 1,300 agricultural cooperatives and supported the capacity building of more than 15,000 small agricultural producers through training through 30 cooperatives in the mango and onion value chains. In the pharmaceutical sector, Team Europe supports the national recovery plan for the pharmaceutical sector, the objective of which is to meet the needs for health products with 50% local production by 2035. With regard to transport, Team Europe contributes to the government’s programme to restructure the public transport network, in particular through support for a network of gas buses that will connect the outlying districts of Dakar with the BRT and TER. Finally, in the energy sector, Team Europe signed the Partnership for a Just Energy Transition with Senegal in June 2023 and is working alongside the authorities to support the implementation of the upcoming National Investment Plan for renewable energy. This initiative should support the electrification of rural areas, the well-being of their populations and the equity of the territories.