The European Union has urged Zimbabwe to make progress in governance, transparency, and economic reforms, saying improvements in these areas are critical to attracting investment and strengthening economic ties.

Carolina Cordeiro, Head of Division for Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, said that predictable and stable regulatory environments were essential for investors, including European businesses looking to expand their operations in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe-EU Partnership Dialogue in Harare on Wednesday, Cordeiro said continued reforms would help create a more favourable investment climate, stimulate sustainable growth, and generate employment, particularly for young people.

“Predictability, stability and transparent regulatory environments remain important considerations for investors, including those from Europe,” she said.

Cordeiro reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to its partnership with Zimbabwe, saying that ongoing cooperation programmes between the two sides were worth more than €200 million.

She said the EU was among Zimbabwe’s major trading partners, with trade between the two sides increasing over the years.

Zimbabwe has enjoyed duty-free and quota-free access to European markets since 2012 under Economic Partnership Agreements, which Cordeiro said also promote local beneficiation and industrialisation.

The EU is seeking to expand these benefits through negotiations for a deeper Economic Partnership Agreement.

Cordeiro said the bloc was also keen to deepen political engagement with Zimbabwe and strengthen cooperation on shared regional and international priorities.

She congratulated Zimbabwe on its election as a nonpermanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the upcoming term, saying that the EU looked forward to working with Harare on matters of international peace and security.

She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to multilateralism, international law, and the United Nations system amid growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts across the world.

Cordeiro said the Zimbabwe-EU relationship was also part of the broader strategic partnership between the European Union and the African Union.