Strategically situated in the mid-Atlantic along main trade routes and evolving as a hub for transatlantic communications, Cabo Verde is a reliable and stable democracy committed to the rule of law. The EU-CV Special Partnership and the cultural, political, and social affinities with the EU brought Cabo Verde close to Europe in areas of common interest such as security, mobility, trade, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and civil rights.
Cabo Verde is currently facing an acute economic crisis due to Covid-19 as well as the challenges of greening the economy and the development of social and gender equality. It does so against the backdrop of a relatively well-developed green energy sector and a cohesive society which nevertheless faces significant economic and social pressures.
There has been long-standing cooperation between Cabo Verde and the EU, perhaps most notably with regard to the completion of the strategic telecommunication’s transatlantic fiber optic link between Latin America and Europe in 2021.
Our priorities
The joint programme between the EU and Cabo Verde builds on a solid base of cooperation going back many years. The priorities of the current cooperation programme build on this base while also addressing current challenges facing Cabo Verde’s development. These are:
Governance for Human Development and equity: This priority area addresses the Government’s crisis response by reducing income inequality, improving social protection, and education, and promoting of gender equality. We also aim to reinforce the sustainability of Government policy.
Green economy for decent jobs and inclusive growth: This priority area will focus on the development of green energy sources and green investment. It also concerns the further development of sustainable tourism, the blue economy and the development of the labour market and VET (vocational education and training) systems.
Our programmes
The Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Cabo Verde for 2021-2024 amounts to €24 million.
Under Governance for Human Development and equity, we will support initiatives on human development, education, and climate change. These will target social protection, education and gender equality and will seek to reinforce policy dialogue in society. Measures to support the position of women in society will be specifically targeted. In addition, ongoing support to the Government in relation to economic management will be provided.
Under the development of Green economy for decent jobs and inclusive growth, we will support actions to enhance meaningful social dialogue in the area. We will contribute to the arrangement of suitable financing for initiatives on renewable energy production, the development of enhanced sustainable green tourism and the development of the blue economy and the protection of marine resources.
Support measures
There is a long history of collaboration between Member States and Cabo Verde in relation to green issues. Currently, four Member States (France, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain) are involved in development under four pillars: green tourism, sustainable energy production, sustainable access to water and sanitation, and the Blue economy.
Measures in favour of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are increasingly becoming an important pillar of the country’s governance. The dialogue between the EU and CSOs will be governed by the 2021- 2027 Roadmap on EU engagement with civil society under preparation.
Cooperation facility
A technical cooperation facility will be critical for the success of this 2021-2027 MIP. The 2014-2020 experience has shown that in order to be effective in our policy dialogue technical expertise is needed in areas of EU and Cabo Verde interest. Technical assistance is an essential instrument to ensure the acceleration of normative and technical convergence with the EU. Long, medium, and short-term expertise will be mobilised to support the MIP focal sectors, build strong partnerships with national agencies, ministries, the private sector and CSOs, respond to needs when they arise and increase EU capacity to coordinate, advocate, communicate and enhance public diplomacy.