EU supports political, electoral reforms in Bangladesh
Saturday, 16 June 2007
A 27-member European Union (EU) team has expressed its support to the efforts to institute political and electoral reforms in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
The EU in a statement Tuesday welcomed efforts by the caretaker government (CG) and the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) to "create appropriate conditions for the holding of free and fair elections in 2008 and for ensuring sustainable democracy."
The statement said an EU troika at senior officials level visited Bangladesh from June 6-9 for intensive and constructive discussions with a wide range of representatives from government, key institutions and civil society. This was the second EU- Troika visit to Bangladesh, following the one in January last year.
It was one of only two troika visits to Asia during the current German Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2007.
As the largest trading and development partner of Bangladesh, the EU said, it attaches immense significance to its relationship with the country. The EU takes around 52 per cent of Bangladesh's exports, amounting to over five billion Euros in 2006.
The EU and its member states are committed development partners of Bangladesh, disbursing around 413 million Euros last year.
The EU in a statement Tuesday welcomed efforts by the caretaker government (CG) and the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) to "create appropriate conditions for the holding of free and fair elections in 2008 and for ensuring sustainable democracy."
The statement said an EU troika at senior officials level visited Bangladesh from June 6-9 for intensive and constructive discussions with a wide range of representatives from government, key institutions and civil society. This was the second EU- Troika visit to Bangladesh, following the one in January last year.
It was one of only two troika visits to Asia during the current German Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2007.
As the largest trading and development partner of Bangladesh, the EU said, it attaches immense significance to its relationship with the country. The EU takes around 52 per cent of Bangladesh's exports, amounting to over five billion Euros in 2006.
The EU and its member states are committed development partners of Bangladesh, disbursing around 413 million Euros last year.