Vice President of European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini has arrived in the Maldives on a bilateral visit.

Federica arrived in the Maldives Thursday morning, on an invitation extended by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. She was welcomed at Velana International Airport by State Minister at the Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Khaleel and Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed.

She will meet with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Foreign Minister, Abdulla Shahid, and Defence Minister, Mariya Didi. Federica will also hold a joint press together with Foreign Minister Shahid, whom she last met during the Minister’s visit to Brussels on June 28.

She will also address the Parliament on strengthening ties between the European Union and the Maldives at the invitation of the Speaker, Mohamed Nasheed.

Her visit follows the recent decision of the Council of the European Union to revoke the framework for restrictive measures against the Maldives that it had adopted in July 2018 in light of the deteriorating political circumstances in the country. The lifting of sanctions is a direct response to the peaceful and democratic parliamentary elections in April 2019, the improvement of the general political situation since President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took office and the government’s commitment to consolidate good governance and democracy.

This also marks the first time a bilateral visit is embarked by a high official of the EU to the Maldives.