“The European Union has to adapt to the political circumstances in its various partner countries and Guinea-Bissau is no different,” Rita Laranginha told Lusa when asked to what extent the country’s cyclical political crisis could affect cooperation with the European Organization.

According to the ambassador, it is “true that when there is instability, it is more difficult to advance in the preparation of the program.”

“It’s still possible. The image that the European Union has about this country, and the positive assessment that I heard from my interlocutors about the cooperation that has been carried out over the years, prove that the European Union has managed to adapt to these circumstances and there is a framework for continuing cooperation with Guinea-Bissau. “, – he stressed.

“It is quite obvious that the European Union’s aspiration is always for stability, inter-ministerial dialogue and cooperation between different political forces, because it makes work easier, but because it is an important factor for the development and progress of the partner country,” Rita emphasized. Laranginha.

During his stay in Bissau, the Director General of the European External Action Service met with the authorities of Guinea, held meetings with various members of the government, civil society and ambassadors of countries from the member states of the European Union.

Export support

Rita Laranginha also stated that the EU intends to support Guinea-Bissau in exporting fish to Europe, which is a factor in promoting development and economic growth.

“The European Union has every intention to support Guinea-Bissau in this process, because we understand that this is very important” for the country, he stressed.

Terrorism

The Director General of the European External Action Service said instability in West Africa and the spread of terrorism is being viewed by the EU “with concern.”

“In the short term, concerns are focused on the situation in Mali and Guinea, Conakry. These military coups are indeed factors of instability and anxiety, ”he said.

The Ambassador stressed that the European Union believes that “regional organizations should play a predominant role in attempts to stabilize the situation” and recalled that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had adopted a number of sanctions in the case of Mali. …

“What the European Union did at the last meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council was to adopt a legal framework that allows, when deemed appropriate, to approve a specific framework for sanctions,” he said.

“We believe that African problems must find solutions to African problems, and therefore we are following ECOWAS in this process, obviously making our own assessment of the circumstances,” he explained.

Rita Laranginha also stressed that the EU “also sees with concern the expansion of terrorist movements in the broader framework of the sub-region” and the fact that “the threat is descending to the south”.