President Paul Kagame on Tuesday met with the European Union’s outgoing ambassador to Rwanda, Belén Calvo Uyarra, as the two reaffirmed longstanding ties between Rwanda and the 27-member bloc ahead of the end of her four-year diplomatic mission.
During the farewell meeting at Village Urugwiro, Kagame and Calvo Uyarra reviewed progress in cooperation between Rwanda and the European Union, including partnerships in vaccine manufacturing, peace support initiatives, critical minerals, environmental sustainability, investment and education, according to the Presidency.
Calvo Uyarra, who took up her post in September 2022, has overseen a period of expanding engagement between Rwanda and the EU across development, trade and investment, as well as broader economic cooperation.
The European Union remains one of Rwanda’s largest development partners, supporting projects in sustainable development, governance, education and economic growth.
In 2023, the EU provided Rwanda with €11 million ($12.8 million at current exchange rates) to help address food insecurity and malnutrition. The bloc has also financed several infrastructure and innovation projects, including the Rubavu Port on Lake Kivu, the Hanga Hub innovation center in Rubavu District and the BioMasters clean cooking fuel plant.
Calvo Uyarra will be succeeded by French diplomat Jérémie Blin, who will serve as the European Union’s ambassador to Rwanda based in Kigali.
Blin previously served as France’s ambassador to Burundi and has also held the position of chargé d’affaires at the French Embassy in Rwanda.
The diplomatic transition comes as Rwanda and the European Union continue to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, with both sides seeking to expand collaboration in healthcare, green development, investment and regional peace initiatives.
