KATHMANDU: The 16th meeting of the EU-Nepal Joint Commission meeting concluded in Brussels of Belgium on Friday.

According to the Nepali Embassy in Brussels, issues related to development cooperation, trade, climate change, regional connectivity and networking, and multilateral collaboration were discussed in the meeting.

On the occasion, both the sides stated that Nepal-EU relations have advanced in a positive way, highlighting various dimensions of development partnership and people-to-people relations.

Also on the occasion, the EU had appreciated the Prime Minister Sushila Karki-led interim government’s performance focusing on fiscal discipline, good governance, accountability and service expansion.

Sharing the progress the country has made in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nepali side stated that collaboration between EU and Nepal is significant to address climate change effects, mitigate disaster risk reduction and promote investment.

Also on the occasion, Nepal reiterated its commitment to legally bring the transitional justice process to a conclusion without any delay.

Welcoming the transitional strategy of Nepal regarding graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC), the EU pledged to continue its assistance through multi-year programme initiated earlier. As stated, review was also done on the progress being made in the development projects in various sectors.

Noting that aviation safety reforms is its high priority, Nepal has reaffirmed its commitment to resolve the issues raised during EU’s assessment visit in September 2023.

Nepal has again requested the EU to withdraw the Nepali Airlines from the EU Air Safety list. The 17th meeting of the joint commission will be organized in Kathmandu next year on the mutually agreed date.

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and EU’s acting Managing Director for the Department of Asia-Pacific Paola Pampaloni.