The ambassadors of Team Europe and 15 member states accredited to Senegal organized a press conference on Wednesday in Dakar to take stock of the European Union-Senegal partnership. They discussed several points, including the fisheries agreement which expires this year and the Schengen area visa.
“Team Europe is in line with the priorities of the new Government.” This is the statement made by the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Senegal, Jean-Marc Pisani, during the press conference organized by the ambassadors of Team Europe, bringing together 15 member states accredited to Senegal. This support focuses on productive investments to strengthen food and health sovereignty. “This support goes hand in hand with support for improving economic governance and strengthening the private sector to create decent and sustainable jobs through professional training. Team Europe collaborates with the private sector to improve the inclusion of young people and their access to credit. Our partnership also targets the living environment of the populations in Dakar and in the regions, through support for the energy and digital sectors, as well as urban mobility and sanitation,” he added. . This face-to-face meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the fishing agreement in force since 2019 between the European Union and Senegal. Moreover, it should expire in November 2024 and will be subject to an evaluation before the opening of new negotiations with the new regime. The diplomat acknowledged that this agreement has given rise to many different perceptions. “The European Union has nothing to hide. The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement is public, transparent and available. European fishermen are allowed to fish a quota of 10,000 tonnes per year under the fishing agreement. They fish 3,000 while the total catch in Senegal is 400,000 tonnes per year,” detailed the EU ambassador to Senegal, before adding that this agreement represents less than 1% of fishing in Senegal. Senegal and that the EU pays around 1.7 million euros each year, or more than 1 billion FCFA.
During the press conference, Team Europe also provided information on obtaining a Schengen area visa. According to the French ambassador to Senegal, Christine Fages, the French consulate general processed 43,000 files in 2022 compared to 46,000 in 2023. “Two thirds for short-stay Schengen visas, one third for long-stay visas” , revealed Ms Fages, before adding that “the acceptance rate for short-stay Schengen visas is greater than 62%”. The Team Europe press conference is part of the celebration of May 9, marking the 74th anniversary of the signing of the “Schuman Declaration” which constitutes the founding act of the European Union.
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