AKP Phnom Penh, March 26, 2026 --

Cambodia and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and strengthening their comprehensive partnership during a meeting in Phnom Penh.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn received Ms. Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific Department at the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Brigadier General Danail Baev, Director of Intelligence of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS), on Mar. 25.

The meeting took place ahead of the 13th Cambodia-EU Joint Committee (JC13), scheduled to be held on Mar. 26 in Phnom Penh.

During the discussion, H.E. Prak Sokhonn expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of Cambodia-EU relations and the expanding scope of cooperation with both the EU and its member states. He highlighted the EU’s significant contributions to Cambodia’s socio-economic development and improvements in people’s livelihoods, particularly through the Global Gateway Strategy and Team Europe initiatives.

For her part, Ms. Paola Pampaloni welcomed the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction with the EU’s support to Cambodia’s development over nearly three decades. She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation, including support for Cambodia’s transition from Least Developed Country (LDC) status toward achieving upper-middle-income status.

The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the EU’s humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and its support for ceasefire efforts and the peace process. He briefed the EU side on recent developments regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border situation.

Both sides also discussed cooperation within the ASEAN-EU framework and reiterated their shared commitment to promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development through a dynamic and comprehensive partnership.

By C. Nika