Joint Statement of the 12th Inter-parliamentary Meeting between the European Parliament and the State Great Hural of Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, 20 September 2018

The Delegation of the European Parliament for relations with Mongolia and Central Asia and the Delegation of the State Great Hural of Mongolia (hereafter referred as "Parties") held the 12 Inter-parliamentary meeting in Ulaanbaatar on September 20, 2018.

The parties reaffirmed the importance of the EU and Mongolia inter-parliamentary relations as a healthy mechanism for the exchange of views on regional and global cooperation and on mutually beneficial political and economic development.

They note that their firm and strong commitment to democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are the basis for EU and Mongolia political and economic relations and EU reaffirmed its commitment to the increased bilateral partnership with Mongolia in line with Mongolia's "third neighbor" policy.

Both sides reiterated that mutually beneficial economic cooperation remains a key theme in the bilateral relationship and discussed opportunities to increase trade and make Mongolia's business and investment climate attractive to EU companies. The EU reconfirmed to continue its financial support of Mongolia's economic reform.

Since the last inter-parliamentary meeting held in Brussels on December 7, 2017 the EU opened its Delegation in Mongolia and the 18 EU-Mongolia Joint Committee meeting held in Ulaanbaatar. In regard to the recent developments of the bilateral relations both sides stressed that establishment of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Mongolia is in the interest of both the EU and Mongolian citizens.

Both Parties highlighted the importance of joint celebration of the 30th anniversary of EU-Mongolia diplomatic relations throughout 2019. Parties expressed view that a number of events should be organized on both sides, including an exchange of high level visits.

The Delegation of the European Parliament for relations with Mongolia and the Group of the State Great Hural of Mongolia for relations with the European Parliament are determined to play their part in consolidating existing areas of cooperation and in deepening and diversifying relations further in areas of mutual interest. In this regard both sides decided to establish a EU-Mongolia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) in order to ensure the appropriate level of parliamentary cooperation and scrutiny under the EU-Mongolia partnership and cooperation agreement and following the procedures and the legal obligations of similar "Partnership and Cooperation Agreements" between the EU and third countries.

FOR THE STATE GREAT HURAL

Navaan-Yunden OYUNDARI

Member of the State Great Hural,

Chair of the Inter-parliamentary group for the relations with the European Parliament at the State Great Hural

FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Iveta GRIGULE-PÈTERSE

Chair of the Delegation of the European Parliament to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan, EU-Tajikistan, EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and for relations with Turkmenistan and Mongolia