Overview
Suriname has a population of over 600,000. Its economy is small but on a growing path because of its newly found oil resources.
The country is bordering the EU’s outermost region of Guyane (France). It is one of the greenest countries in the world where about 93% of its land surface is covered by forest and the historical deforestation degree is lower than 0.1%.
Our partnership
The EU-Suriname’s partnership contributes to foster investments in favour of climate change mitigation and adaptation under the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda. The EU’s engagement on forest makes it a key partner for Suriname in maintaining its forest cover pledge and increasing the contribution of the forests to the economy.
€18 million have been earmarked for Suriname for the 2021-2027 period to leverage high-impact projects and blended finance.
The Joint Team Europe Initiative on forest in Guyana and in Suriname brings together the EU and its Members States, with France as the main partner.
Suriname is also part of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance and benefits from cooperation on security through EL PACTO 2.0 and COPOLAD.
EU-Suriname partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation
The EU’s cooperation with Suriname focuses fully on the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment. That requires working from multiple angles, from financing to forest restoration. This is done in collaboration local and international partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank. Specific projects include:
- Developing and enhancing sustainable and inclusive global forest-based value chains.
- Supporting Suriname’s adaptation to climate change, including the restoration and protection of its mangrove forests.
- Assisting Suriname’s ability to benefit from the EU’s Copernicus satellite system data, which includes data on climate change.
- Expanding Suriname’s access to payment for ecosystem services and carbon finance.
- Protecting Paramaribo’s World Heritage Site through flood control.
- Empowering and supporting indigenous communities through bioeconomy and access to water, energy and telecommunications.
