Overview
The Union of the Comoros comprises three small islands (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli) in the Indian Ocean, north of the Mozambique Channel and northeast of Madagascar.
With an overall population of less than 1 million people, but 456 inhabitants per km², the country is densely populated, which causes pressure on natural resources and makes ecosystems preservation a national priority. While 53% of the population are under 20 years old, 45% of the population lives just below the poverty line.
Our partnership
The EU supports the Comoros in the structural transformation of the country’s economy in line with ‘’Plan Comores Emergent 2020-2030’’, and the EU Global Gateway Strategy.
Our actions build on the country’s commitment to strengthen its environmental and food resilience, as well as on efforts to promote participation and protection of women, youth and civil society.
Team Europe’s presence has increased in recent years. It brings together the EU, France and its overseas department La Réunion, and the European Investment Bank. Together, we work on the Team Europe Initiative on ‘Investing in Young Businesses in Africa’ in support of entrepreneurs, young people and women.
The EU has allocated €41 million in grants to the partnership with the Union of the Comoros over the period 2021-2024.
EU-Comoros partnership programming documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our flagship initiatives
- Climate fragility and resilience
As an island nation, Comoros relies on climate resilience and sustainable terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The EU partners with the Comoros on:
- Biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources, combined with support to encourage dialogue with local populations. The aim is to promote a change towards more sustainable and diversified local food consumption patterns.
- Ensuring a climate-resilient water supply in the Domoni conurbation (40,000 inhabitants).
- Regional response to climate displacement through support for the resilience and autonomy of forcibly displaced populations and host communities.
- Fostering the integration of environmental challenges at local level.
- Oceans, blue economy and maritime transport
Supporting international ocean governance, promoting a sustainable blue economy and improving port infrastructure Our actions focus on:
- Modernising the port of Moroni: Enlarging the quay at the port; improving port governance (transparency, capacity building)
- Reinforcing maritime safety:
- Safe Seas: Strengthening maritime safety in Africa.
- MASE: Building the capacity of maritime affairs authorities, governments and port agencies in the ESA-IO region to undertake port state control inspections.
- Improving the fishing value chain and supporting the production, processing and marketing of small-scale fishing.
- Strengthening regional ecotourism and the local tourism offer.
- Preserving natural capital and marine and coastal biodiversity.
- Economy, competitiveness and business climate
Developing a favourable business climate for investment and the private sector, and promoting the competitiveness of businesses and the development of markets through trade facilitation, while reinforcing professional training. Our actions focus on:
- Strengthening the arrangements for implementing customs procedures, providing support to improve legal certainty and formalisation for businesses that invest, and increasing women's access to support services and entrepreneurial opportunities in the green economy sector.
- Deepening negotiations for the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and 5 countries in Eastern Southern Africa (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe (ESA5 EPA)
- Providing training and integrating young people in professions such as digital technology, tourism and fishing.
- Encouraging entrepreneurship and community investment by the diaspora in support of economic development.
- Financial governance
Supporting a strengthening public finance management and the reform of the civil service. The EU partners with Comoros on:
- Mobilising resources, improving transparency and strengthening budget process
- Helping to fight against transnational organised crime and terrorist groups by targeting illicit financial flows
- Supporting administrative productivity and a good management of the wage bill.
- Governance and civil society
Strengthening the role of the civil society and its voice in public policies, encouraging participation of women and young people. Among others, our efforts focus on:
- Fostering culture: More responsive and inclusive AU-EU partnership for young people, ensuring their participation, representation, advocacy.
- Increasing opportunities for young people, between Africa and Europe, in their diversity to act as leaders and multipliers for sustainable development.
- Education
Improving education and teacher training. As other African countries, the Comoros participate in Erasmus+ mobility schemes for students and university staff. In addition, two projects focus on strengthening university capacities, entrepreneurial skills development and social innovation capacities. The EU further supports the Comoros in:
- The implementation of the African Continental Qualifications Framework.
- The Initiative for Harmonisation of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education in Africa, that aims to improve the quality, relevance and transparency of African higher education through harmonised quality assurance and accreditation systems at institutional, national, regional and continental levels.
The Comoros also take part in the Africa-Europe cultural cooperation and promotion of intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity.
Related documents