The Delegation holds the Presidency of the European Union in Gabon and works in close collaboration with the EU Member States accredited there (Germany, Spain, France and Italy). It also collaborates with the missions present in São Tomé and Príncipe (Portugal).
The EU Delegation accredited to Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (STP) and ECCAS ensures the representation of the European Union and maintains active diplomatic relations with local actors in accordance with the principles set out in the Lisbon Treaty and the Cotonou Agreement.
Cooperation between the EU and Gabon revolves around political dialogue, trade and development aid. The EU pursues a political dialogue with Gabon and supports the promotion and protection of human rights. It supports the dynamics of economic diversification with an emphasis on the empowerment of women, the creation of jobs for young people, while contributing to overcoming the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in a perspective of "green recovery", in partnership with EU Member States (Team Europe) and ECCAS.
The EU Delegation in Gabon, with the assistance of the cooperation attaché based in Sao Tome where an EU branch was opened in December 2020, monitors actions. The EU is an essential partner of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe with which it maintains a regular political dialogue, and provides support to the priority sectors in the fields of water and sanitation as well as to the strengthening of agricultural sectors. In the field of external aid, the objective of the EU is to support the implementation of the National Poverty Reduction Strategy of the Santomean Government. The country also benefits from a contribution from the PALOP/East Timor regional cooperation programme.
Finally, At the level of the Central African sub-region, the EU, in partnership with ECCAS, contributes to peace and security, in particular maritime security, to the strengthening of institutional capacities for the management of public finances, and to the fight against climate change and the preservation of biodiversity.