Joint Communique: Fourteenth Ministerial Meeting European Union (EU) – Cabo Verde Special Partnership

1. The 14^th Ministerial meeting under the EU – Cabo Verde Special Partnership, held in Brussels on 9 October 2026, was co-chaired by HE Mr. Manuel Augusto Lima Amante da Rosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Communities, and National Defense of Cabo Verde, and by HE Mr. Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, on behalf of Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

2. Cabo Verde and the EU (hereinafter referred to as “the partners”) recommitted to the shared values and the common agenda underpinning the Special Partnership and praised its success in achieving mutual objectives.

3. On the occasion of the 51^st anniversary of its national independence, Cabo Verde was commended for its progress in democracy, human development, and governance reforms. Particular note was made of the exemplary organization of the May 2026 parliamentary elections, the peaceful transfer of power and the election - on 18 June 2026 - of the first female Speaker of the National Assembly. 

4. The EU expressed its profound condolences and solidarity with the Government and the people of Cabo Verde following the tragic road accident on the island of Fogo, which resulted in the loss of 25 lives, mostly children and young people, and conveyed its sincere condolences to the victims' families.

International and Regional Issues

5. The partners commended the main outcomes of the 7^th African Union (AU) – EU Summit (Luanda, 24-25 November 2025) and renewed their commitment to implementing the Joint Vision for 2030 from the 6^th AU-EU Summit.

6. While welcoming the convergence of views in international fora, they recommitted to effective multilateralism and the rules-based international order and reiterated their support for a an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter and international law, as well as the peaceful resolution of other conflicts, including in Iran, Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Sahel, Somalia.

7. The partners welcomed the results of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference and emphasized the need to develop joint actions to implement the Nice Ocean Action Plan. They welcomed the entry in force, in January 2026, of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).

8. The partners underscored the importance of the outcome of the 4^th International Conference on Financing for Development (Seville, 1-3 July 2025), urging concrete actions to boost investment in sustainable development.

9. Noting the outcome of the 2025 Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the partners discussed support for developing nations facing climate crisis’ impacts. In 2025, Cabo Verde suffered two severe climate-related disasters, including hurricane Erin that triggered deadly floods and landslides. Cabo Verde thanked the EU for its assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

10. The partners expressed their concerns regarding the slow ratification of the Samoa Agreement and recommitted to its swift and full implementation.

11. The EU praised Cabo Verde for organizing the high-level meeting of Small Island Developing States of the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea-SIDS AIS (Praia, May 2025) and congratulated it on assuming the 2025-2027 Chairmanship of the SIDS AIS Coordination Mechanism.

12. Cabo Verde recalled the Declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the Alliance of Small Island States on the Special Circumstances of SIDS, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2025, and encouraged the EU to sustain support in recognizing their special circumstances and unique vulnerabilities.

13. The partners assessed the peace and security situation in West Africa, focusing on AU and ECOWAS positions on recent developments in countries affected by coups d’état. They expressed concern over instability in the Sahel and other West African countries, urging all parties to uphold democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law.

14. The partners underlined Cabo Verde’s cooperation with the EU’s outermost regions - Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands – and its strategic role in Euro-African cooperation, acting as a bridge between Europe and Africa via the Macaronesia region. Cabo Verde thanked the EU for backing the Macaronesia European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) feasibility study under the Regional Integration pillar of the Special Partnership. The EGTC could serve as a privileged platform for regional economic integration, linking Macaronesia’s outermost regions with its African neighbors.

Bilateral relations

15. The partners expressed their satisfaction with the excellent momentum in their bilateral relations and the progress achieved in implementing the Special Partnership in the security and stability, trade, fisheries and investment areas,with the EU Global Gateway Strategy at its core.

Security and stability

16. The partners welcomed the strengthening of maritime security cooperation, including through the first European Peace Facility (EPF) assistance measure, approved in July 2025, with the aim of improving Cabo Verde’s naval defense and regional maritime security. Cabo Verde reiterated its commitment to facilitate its implementation and expressed gratitude for the adoption of a second EPF package worth EUR 60 million in 2026.

17. Reaffirming their commitment to fostering cooperation under the Yaoundé Architecture, the partners welcomed the delivery - as part of the Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security project (SWAIMS) - of boats intended to help Cabo Verde combat piracy and illicit trafficking. Cabo Verde advocated for the reinforcement of the EU Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) missions, with naval assets from member States, to strengthen security cooperation.

18. Both sides welcomed the launch of the “West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme” (WASOP), designed to strengthen the nexus between security and economic development, as well as to develop the blue economy sector in Cabo Verde and, more broadly, in the Gulf of Guinea.

19. They also stressed deepened cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (‘Frontex’), including the ongoing negotiations aimed at concluding a new working arrangement in autumn 2026.

EU Global Gateway

20. In 2026, Cabo Verde and the EU further deepened their Special Partnership, delivering tangible results in poverty reduction, social protection, renewable energy, port modernisation, blue economy, digitalisation, and sustainable tourism.

21. The EU reaffirmed Cabo Verde as a key Global Gateway partner, welcoming its role in the 2025 Global Gateway Forum, where Cabo Verde showcased nearly EUR 400 M investments in renewables, blue economy, maritime infrastructure, and digital transformation. Cabo Verde welcomed the invitation extended by the President of the European Commission to the Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, Mr. Francisco Carvalho, to participate in the 2027 Global Gateway Forum in Brussels.

22. On renewable energy, the EU and Cabo Verde highlighted particularly the expansion in 2025 of the Cabeólica wind farm - backed by Team Europe - and the progress made on the Santiago pumped storage facility project, both key contributions to cut energy costs, boost security and drive sustainable growth.

23. On port modernisation, they noted Global Gateway supports entering an operational phase in 2026, with technical studies underway to ensure high standards of sustainability and performance.

24. On digital connectivity, the EU and Cabo Verde highlighted the solid advancement of the “Global Gateway” pipeline. Projects in preparation include domestic and international submarine cables, enhanced inter-island connectivity, and access to advanced European digital infrastructure and technologies, aiming to create high-quality jobs, strengthen Cabo Verde's position as a regional digital hub, and scale its digital economy. Furthermore, both sides welcomed the progress made in supporting the development of Cabo Verde's National Data Strategy and National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

25. Cabo Verde highlighted two additional requests for Global Gateway support: the “Blue Tech Accelerator Package”, a flagship initiative to drive private sector growth in digital, blue economy, and green transition sectors and the “Climate Adaptation Package”, designed to strengthen resilience while promoting sustainable economic activity and safeguarding social cohesion. Cabo Verde welcomed the progress made in preparing the “Blue Tech Accelerator Package”, including its concessional financing arrangements, hoped for favourable consideration of the “Climate Adaptation Package, and signaled its readiness to deepen collaboration under the EU Global Gateway.

26. The partners welcomed the signing, in December 2025, of a new budget support programme, comprising a non-reimbursable grant of EUR 20 M, which will help address recent climate-related shocks, support the implementation of key economic governance and regulatory reforms in Global Gateway priority sectors, and back targeted measures to strengthen the social protection system.

27. The EU reaffirmed its determination to continue supporting the country’s long-term development goals, as well as potential new priorities outlined in the Government’s Programme for 2026-2031.

Trade, Fisheries and investment

28. The partners stressed the importance of foreign investment for economic growth and job creation. They welcomed the success of the EU-Cabo Verde Global Gateway Forum (Sal, June 2025) aimed at fostering investment opportunities by bringing together high-level decision makers, European and Cabo Verdean companies, European financial institutions and export credit agencies.

29. The EU remains Cabo Verde's main trade partner, with bilateral trade in goods amounting to EUR 703 M in 2025. It will support initiatives to unlock the country’s economic potential, diversify its tourism-dependent economy and promote inclusive, sustainable growth.

30. Cabo Verde expressed interest in negotiating a Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA) with the EU. Both sides welcomed the preliminary bilateral consultations that took place.

31. Cabo Verde welcomed the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 on applying a generalized scheme of tariff preferences and reiterated its interest in continuing to benefit from the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+) to guarantee the continuity of its exports, mainly fish and fisheries products, to the EU.

32. The partners highlighted the 2024-2029 Fisheries Protocol as the key framework for sectoral cooperation. The EU commended Cabo Verde’s efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and reaffirmed support for the country’s fisheries development. They noted the adoption of the temporary derogation from the rules of origin for fishery products in March 2026.

Migration and Mobility Partnership

33. The partners reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the mobility partnership, as well as to further implementing the amended visa facilitation agreement and the readmission agreement, in a spirit of open dialogue.

34. They emphasized the importance of the Cabo Verdean diaspora in the EU Member States and its contribution to the development of Cabo Verde and the host countries.

35. The partners confirmed their determination to strengthen bilateral and international cooperation in implementing a comprehensive and coordinated response to counter migrant smuggling, in accordance with the Global Alliance and its Joint Declaration.

Next Meeting

The partners agreed to convene the next Ministerial Meeting in 2027, the year marking the 20^th Anniversary of the Special Partnership. To celebrate this special occasion, they agreed that the next meeting would be held in Cabo Verde.