The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria has announced that a high-level Senior Officials Meeting between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will take place in Abuja from Tuesday, 1st July to Wednesday, 2nd July 2025. The pivotal meeting aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and prepare for the forthcoming Nigeria-EU Ministerial Meeting scheduled for later this year.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director of the Regions Department at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Mathieu Briens, Deputy Managing Director for the Africa Department at the European External Action Service (EEAS). It is expected to lay the groundwork for expanding diplomatic, economic, and developmental collaboration between Nigeria and the EU.
The two-day dialogue will feature comprehensive discussions across key strategic sectors that define the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the European Union. Topics on the agenda include:
- Strengthening collaboration on multilateral and regional governance frameworks
- Advancing peace, security, and good governance in West Africa
- Responding to humanitarian challenges and enhancing crisis coordination
- Boosting trade, investment, and private sector engagement
- Improving human development through investments in health, education, and social protection
- Supporting innovation through science, technology, and digital transformation
- Managing migration effectively while ensuring human rights protections
- Accelerating the transition to green energy and combating climate change through joint climate-resilient programs
This meeting comes at a crucial time when global challenges such as climate change, insecurity, digital transformation, and humanitarian crises demand cohesive international cooperation. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country and a key regional power, plays an influential role in shaping regional dynamics, while the EU continues to be a major development and trade partner for the West African nation.
Both sides have reiterated their shared commitment to democratic principles, sustainable development, mutual prosperity, and a rules-based international order. The Abuja meeting is expected to result in actionable frameworks and policy alignments that will enhance cooperation across strategic sectors ahead of the Ministerial Meeting.
Nigeria and the European Union have a longstanding diplomatic relationship rooted in mutual respect and shared priorities. Over the years, the partnership has evolved to include dynamic collaboration on peacekeeping, climate action, health, trade, digital innovation, and migration management. This upcoming engagement in Abuja is seen as another milestone in deepening the robust ties between the two partners, reinforcing their joint commitment to global peace, sustainable growth, and inclusive development.
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