Every year, Europe Day commemorates the Schuman Declaration signed on May 9th, 1950 by the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, widely seen to be the founding text for European integration and the beginning of what is now the European Union. Delivering a statement marking the celebration, Ambassador Manuel Müller recalled that in the last 72 years the process of European integration has constantly strengthened and deepened, and has been instrumental in contributing to peace, growth and solidarity in a region of today 447 million people.

Ambassador Müller condemned the unprovoked Russian aggression on Ukraine, in violation of the core principles of international order including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a State and international humanitarian law, and expressed the European Union’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The EU also emphasized its solidarity with the people of Ukraine by playing the Ukrainian anthem after the anthems of Sierra Leone and of the European Union.

The Ambassador said that at the summit of the European Union and the African Union held in Brussels in February 2022, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to remain a strong and reliable partner of Sierra Leone, supporting the country in the consolidation of peace, democracy and development. He added that the partnership between the European Union and Sierra Leone for the period 2021-2027 will focus on the priority areas of green economy, including agriculture and energy, human development, including education, and governance, including electoral support. Gender equality and women empowerment will remain a key crosscutting priority of the EU partnership with Sierra Leone. He mentioned examples of development achievements funded by the EU in Sierra Leone, focusing on tangible and positive impacts on the Sierra Leonean people, in the areas of education and road infrastructure, contributing to the Global Gateway. He pointed out that the EU is ready to continue supporting initiatives leading at better business and investment climate, which is crucial for broad-based and inclusive economic growth and development.

Ambassador Müller welcomed the progress made by the Government in important areas of governance in Sierra Leone, including the abolishment of the death penalty in 2021 and the repeal of the criminal libel law in 2020, and said the European Union encourages all actors to continue to strengthen the rule of law, democratic structures, inclusive governance and checks and balances in the country. He noted that the EU looks forward to peaceful, fair and free elections in 2023, and the European Union will continue to support the conduct of inclusive, credible, transparent and peaceful electoral processes in Sierra Leone.

Ambassador Müller recalled that the European Union is not only the EU Delegation but also a Union of 27 Member States, working together as Team Europe, including France, Germany and Ireland with active diplomatic missions in Sierra Leone. He emphasized that Team Europe has always been a reliable partner of Sierra Leone and remains committed to continue this partnership based on shared values and supporting Sierra Leone’s pathway towards broad-based and robust economic growth, sustainable development and prosperity in line with the National Development Plan.

Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, Honorable Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara, in her statement as Guest of Honour designated by the Government, underscored the importance of a strong partnership between Sierra Leone and the European Union, aligned with the Government of Sierra Leone’s development priorities, including Human Capital Development, comprising the three core and mutually reinforcing pillars of Education, Health and Food Security.

She underlined the Government’s focus on education, including school infrastructure, school feeding, teacher training and teaching and learning materials, and the Government’s commitment that every child can reach his or her full potential through education. She noted that the Government of Sierra Leone would continue the efforts to build an enabling environment for investments. She also pointed out that Sierra Leone would continue to deepen its cooperation and partnership with Team Europe, not only bilaterally but also in the multilateral fora.

The European Union Ambassador, Heads of Missions of EU Member States (Germany, Ireland, France and Spain) and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs shared a toast to the prosperity and well-being of Sierra Leone, to the people of Sierra Leone and to the relations between Sierra Leone and Europe.