EU-Vietnam Review Bilateral Cooperation under CSP 2007-2013

The 8th meeting of the EU-Vietnam Working Group on Cooperation just took place under the co-chairmanship of Dr. Ho Quang Minh, Director General for the Foreign Economic Relations Department of Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Mr Sean Doyle, Ambassador - Head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam.

 

Both sides reviewed bilateral cooperation programs under the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2007-2013 in those areas of poverty reduction, health, trade-related assistance, and public finance management. Both sides agreed on maintaining the priorities for cooperation to support sustainable reduction of poverty in Vietnam within the framework of Vietnam's Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) 2011-2015. Climate change will receive particular attention and be mainstreamed throughout the cooperation programme. Both sides are currently working actively on supporting the reform of the health sector through a programme-based approach to ensure improved provisions of basic health care. 

 

Both sides also discussed annual actions plans for the year 2011 and 2012. In 2011, the EU intends to support a new trade project to facilitate trade and investment and improved compliance with international treaties and environmental and labour standards. The EU will also support a facility to promote strategic dialogue and cooperation in the areas covered by the new Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). In 2012, the EU aims, jointly with other donors, at a programme based approach for a specific poverty reduction intervention. Dr. Minh informed about the process of preparing ODA strategic framework of Vietnam for the period 2011- 2015. It is expected to be finalized in November 2011 associated with SEDP 2011-2015 and will be taken into consideration for future cooperation between EU and Vietnam.

 

The Vietnamese side is appreciating the significant direct assistance of the EU to universities, NGO’s and Civil Society for around 10 million EUR per year. The areas covered include scholarships, disaster preparedness, climate change and assistance to disadvantaged groups in society.

 

Different forms of cooperation have been reviewed as well, such as for combating avian and human influenza, HIV/Aids, supporting regional integration, nuclear safety, and science and technology.