Senegal and the European Union have reinforced their strategic partnership following a joint visit to Dakar on March 2–3, 2026, by European Commissioners Jozef Síkela and Magnus Brunner.
The envoys held talks with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang, focusing on maritime security, tackling illegal fishing, migration management, and boosting investment under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. The European delegation also toured key national projects, including Joint Operational Programme II and the Regional Express Train, as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in urban mobility and infrastructure financing.
During the visit, Magnus Brunner met with Armed Forces Minister General Birame Diop and Interior Minister Mouhamadou Bamba Cissé to enhance collaboration against trafficking and transnational organized crime.
As part of this cooperation, 11 new patrol boats and six refurbished vessels were delivered to Senegal’s National Police and Gendarmerie, alongside the inauguration of the Port of Dakar’s Maritime Maintenance Center.
Discussions also advanced plans to extend the TER network with EU and French Development Agency support, aiming to improve territorial connectivity and regional integration.
Both sides pledged to intensify action on irregular migration, readmission, and legal mobility pathways, while safeguarding fisheries resources and supporting youth employment through fisheries value chains.
