Bangladesh and the European Union are set to sign a historic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) on Monday in Brussels, marking a major step toward strengthening long-term bilateral relations.
Once signed, the agreement will serve as the legal and political framework for enhanced cooperation between the two sides, covering key areas such as trade, investment, governance, human rights, climate change, energy, transport, food security, and science and innovation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh.
Officials said the PCA will further institutionalize Bangladesh–EU relations and position Bangladesh as the first South Asian country to sign such a comprehensive framework agreement with the EU.
The agreement comes after five rounds of negotiations concluded earlier this year, following discussions that began in November 2024. The final text was agreed upon during meetings held in Dhaka and Brussels, both physically and virtually.
Bangladesh is represented at the signing ceremony by Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, along with senior officials including the Secretary (Bilateral) of the Foreign Ministry.
The EU has also expressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with Bangladesh through the new framework, which is expected to expand collaboration in areas such as legal and judicial cooperation, intellectual property rights, fisheries, ocean governance, customs, and investment facilitation.
Officials say the PCA represents a new phase in Bangladesh–EU relations, paving the way for broader strategic engagement and stronger economic integration in the coming years.
