Overview
The Republic of Maldives, an upper middle-income country in the Indian Ocean, has a population of over 500,000. With its economy heavily reliant on tourism, fisheries, and the construction industry, this South Asian state is known for its vibrant culture and breathtaking natural beauty.
Our partnership
The European Union is committed to assisting the Maldives in achieving sustainable and inclusive development, aligning with the principles of the Global Gateway Strategy and the Indo-Pacific Strategy. The EU has strengthened cooperation with the Maldives and its support to the country’s democratic transition. Together they prioritise two critical areas: fostering a green economic recovery and enhancing good governance, the rule of law, and security.
The EU collaborates extensively with its Member States, like-minded donors, and international organisations to ensure leverage on relevant policy domains .
For the 2021-2024 period, the EU has dedicated € 12 million in grant funding to its partnerships with the Maldives. with an additional €7 million for the 2025-2027 period.
The EU-Maldives partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below for more detailed information.
Our key initiatives
- Green recovery
The EU and the Maldives have launched a multi-pronged green recovery that includes projects in biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and investing in renewable energy, while keeping an eye on the health and gender dimensions. Concrete EU support includes:
- Helping implement the Maldives’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and reducing its emissions.
- Preventing marine litter in tourist areas along the Lakshadweep shorelines.
- Implementing a climate-gender lens in the private sector.
- Improving marine resource management and biodiversity protection, including mangrove ecosystems, as well as island waste management.
- Supporting public utilities in increasing their use of renewable and affordable energy.
- Increasing the Maldives’ resilience to pandemics and boosting the efficiency of their health sector.
- Good governance and rule of law
The EU and the Maldives work together on local governance in three key areas: justice and anti-corruption, security, and human rights. Specifically, our common actions focus on:
- Improving access to justice and anti-corruption institutions.
- Increasing security against terrorism and extremism.
- Supporting civil society organisations to protect freedom of expression and environmental rights, as well as fight disinformation and build structural dialogue.
