The Surinamese delegation was headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, His Excellency Albert R. Ramdin and included the Minister of Justice and Police, His Excellency Kenneth Amoksi; Permanent Secretary Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Miriam Mac Intosh; Permanent Secretary Administrative and Consular Affairs, Ambassador Luziano Truideman; Permanent Secretary Development Finance, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ms. Iris Sandel; Deputy Permanent Secretary Development Cooperation, Ms. Elizabeth Bradley; Head of the Legal Department and Treaties, Mrs. Sita Bindadin-Randjitsing; Policy Advisor, Ministry of Justice and Police, Mr. Biswadath Somai and the Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Mr. Gilbert van Lierop.

The EU side was headed by the EEAS Deputy Managing Director for the Americas, Javier Nino Perez, the Ambassador of the European Union His Excellency Mr Fernando Ponz Cantó, the Ambassador of Netherlands His Excellency Mr Henk Van Der Zwan, Chargé d'Affairs of France Mr Jose Gomez, the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, Ms Evelina Melbarzde; Deputy Head of the Mission, Embassy of Ireland to Brazil responsible for Suriname, Ms Maeve McKiernan, the Deputy Head of the Mission, Embassy of Austria to Brazil responsible for Suriname, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, Mr Karel Lizerot and the EEAS desk officer for Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States, and Caribbean regional matters, Mr Tim Sauler]

The objective of the political dialogue is to exchange information, to foster mutual understanding and to facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas in particular by recognizing the existing links between the different aspects of the relations between the parties and the various areas of cooperation as laid down in the Cotonou Agreement.

The meeting took place in a very cordial atmosphere where both sides engaged in constructive, wide-ranging and frank discussions on bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual concern and interest.  Discussions included inter alia political developments and economic affairs in Suriname and the EU; the human rights challenges, priorities and activities; global and regional developments such as the fight against COVID-19, climate change, security, and cooperation in multilateral fora; and EU and Members States cooperation.

The European Union recognized the ongoing reform process of Suriname and reiterated its commitment to provide assistance where needed. The EU commended Suriname on its efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Surinamese side reiterated its commitment to democracy, good governance, the rule of law and human rights. Furthermore, the Surinamese side noted the importance of an effective multilateralism, which is underpinned by broad principles such as predictability, equality and solidarity. 

The Surinamese side also reiterated its considered view for the re-entry of an EU presence in Suriname to facilitate the programming and cooperation and to maximize the financial arrangements, and highlighted the matter of visa waiver for Surinamese nationals to travel to EU Member States as a high priority.

Both sides stressed their full commitment to engage in a political partnership on a broad range of topics of mutual interests such as sustainable economic recovery and the deepening of their trade relations, the fight against climate change and for environmental protection, and the importance of multilateralism and cooperation in international fora.

The EU confirmed that it would continue its development cooperation activities with Suriname in the framework of a new Multiannual Indicative Programme for the period 2021-2027, allocating EUR 13 million. The programme defines Forest Partnerships as a priority area, and will support Suriname’s long-term vision for a green transition. In addition, the programme will also allocate funds for a Cooperation Facility that can be utilised to address the needs of the Government of Suriname for Technical Assistance in areas of mutual concern. Funds will also be set aside to mobilise investing both in Suriname and in the broader Amazon basin.

The two sides concluded by expressing their satisfaction on the usefulness of the dialogue in the context of EU-Surinamese relations, and have agreed to continue the constructive dialogue among the partners, also under the new EU-OACPS Agreement. The next round of the dialogue will be scheduled in 2022 at a mutually convenient date.