Khishigdelger Davaadorj, Mongolia’s Ambassador to the EU
Khishigdelger Davaadorj, Mongolia’s Ambassador to the EU

By signing a “Partnership and Cooperation Agreement” (PCA) with the EU in 2013, Mongolia demonstrated its commitment to strengthening its ties to the EU. At a seminar on EU-Mongolia Relations organised by the European Institute for Asian Studies in Brussels in October 2013, Khishigdelger Davaadorj, Mongolia’s Ambassador to the EU, commented, “We have been witnessing a growing interest (in both the EU and Mongolia) to elevate our ties to new heights.” He added, “EU projects and programmes that have been implemented in Mongolia contributed and are still contributing immensely to the development of our country.”

The EU is Mongolia’s third-biggest trade partner, accounting for 8.1% of the country’s total foreign trade, or a total €446 million in 2012. The EU is also one of the top foreign investors in Mongolia; over 730 EU companies from 25 EU member states have projects in the country.

2013 has marked important developments in Mongolia and the EU relations with the signature of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the first ever high-level visits from the EU side by EC President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to Mongolia since the EU established diplomatic relations with the country in 1989. Ambassador Khishigdelger Davaadorj says, “The visits and the signing of the PCA are a sign of the importance the EU attaches to its relationship with Mongolia and the desire of both sides to expand bilateral ties and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in every possible field.” And the Ambassador noted the importance of the existing mechanism – Mongolia and the EU Joint Committee in strengthening relations and cooperation.

Planning for more bilateral cooperation

The EU Country Strategy Paper for Mongolia 2007-2013 outlined both sides’ priorities for on-going bilateral relations and built on the 1993 EU-Mongolia Trade and Cooperation Agreement. As of October 2013, the EU had provided a total of around €100 million in support for Mongolia since 1993. According to the Joint Statement issued during visit of President Barroso to Mongolia the EU development assistance would double during the period 2014-2020, compared to 2007-2013. Ambassador Khishigdelger Davaadorj points out, “We are grateful that the EU has been supporting Mongolia since the beginning of our transitional period. Further improvement of Mongolia’s political relationship and economic partnership with the EU is an important factor in the development and a strong assurance of national security of our country.”

As Mongolia’s free-market economy develops, the country’s relationship with the EU has evolved to include cooperation in specific fields, including agriculture, rural development, science and technology, energy and transport, education and culture, environment, research and innovation, natural resources, health and social affairs, media, foreign policy and security, and the introduction of EU principles, norms and standards. The PCA opens the doors to even more cooperation between Mongolia and the EU in the future.