On January 21, 2010, the first step talk was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a partnership and cooperative agreement between Mongolia and the European Union (EU).

During the talks, the sides expressed their satisfaction with active development of the Mongolia-EU relations, and noted they are attaching great importance to these talks which will widen bilateral cooperation in all spheres and enrich it with new contents. The sides agreed to host the next talks in Brussels, Belgium and bring it to a close in the near future.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) of the EU is established with various countries, covers all the structural spheres for bilateral collaboration. However, the EU has established the PCA with many countries and with a variety of contents, depending on each country’s character and interests.

Mongolia put forward a proposal to EU to establish the PCA in 2006. Official talks started in September, 2009. At the end of the talks, the sides agreed on 35 clauses out of an original 60 that were stated in the agreement and now it is planned to finalize the agreement.

On January 22, Deputy Prime Minister M. Enkhbold called on F.Jessen, Head of the Unit for China, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, External Relations Directorate-General of the European Commission.

Mr. Enkhbold expressed his satisfaction with intensifying bilateral relations and cooperation, conducting regular high-level talks and deepening mutual understandings. He said that the PCA is not only significant to bring bilateral relations and cooperation to a new level and expand more, but also to develop the legal environment of relations. In February, President Elbegdorj will pay a visit to the European parliament and it is expected that many issues will be resolved during the visit.

He also requested Mr. Jessen to support the removal of Mongolia from a list of countries with a nonmarket economy and establish its representative office in Ulaanbaatar. In turn, Mr. Jessen said that the European Commission would send its working group to Mongolia in February to conduct relevant studies and would make a resolution whether or not to remove it. Mr. Jessen expressed readiness to support Mongolia’s effort to introduce European standards and rules into the country.

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