EU and Timor-Leste Seek to Deepen Partnership Across Key Sectors

DILI, 16 September 2025 (TATOLI) – European Union delegation, led by Francisco Assis, met with Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta and acting Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay to boost their partnership across key sectors.

During the meeting at the Presidential Palace, Assis praised Timor-Leste as a young, consolidating democracy and a global example.

He affirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting the nation’s development through enhanced cooperation.

Assis also thanked Timor-Leste for its swift financial aid to Portugal during recent wildfires, calling the gesture unforgettable.

At a separate meeting with acting Prime Minister Lay at the Dili Convention Center, the delegation discussed cooperation in education, agriculture, and tourism. They also addressed support for Timor-Leste’s integration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Lay underscored Timor-Leste’s view of the EU as a strategic partner, acknowledging its crucial support before and after the nation’s independence.

Several Timorese ministers, secretaries of state, and Central Bank Governor Hélder Lopes also attended the discussions.

Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins