Why did the Bhutanese delegation visit Brussels?

The Bhutanese delegation took the opportunity of its visit to Brussels to meet various senior representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The European Union (EU) and the Royal Government of Bhutan held their tenth formal Consultations in Brussels on 2 February 2022.

How does the European Union help Bhutan?

The European Union's humanitarian aid department has been active in Bhutan since 2011. Up till date, it has contributed over €2 million to improve the country's disaster preparedness capacities, focusing mainly on education and health.

What is EU support for civil society organisations in Bhutan?

EU support for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Bhutan, which concluded in December 2022, consisted in 61 sub-granted projects that reached 200,000 direct beneficiaries, 53% of whom were women, representing approximately 26% of the country's population.

How does the EU support local authorities in Bhutan?

The EU's support to local authorities takes shape through the programme, 'Capacity Development for Local Government and Fiscal Decentralisation' in Bhutan, which began work in 2017. With a duration of almost 5.5 years, the programme aims to support the following objectives:

Does Bhutan have an EU embassy in Brussels?

Bhutan has an Embassy in Brussels, accredited to the EU and to several EU Member States. Regular visits of the EU Ambassador to Bhutan, often jointly with Ambassadors of the EU Member States, provide opportunities for in-depth discussions to further strengthen the EU-Bhutan partnership.

Why does Bhutan use solar power?

To meet its annual power needs, Bhutan uses solar power alongside hydropower in a complimentary manner. This promotes climate adaptation by diversifying the power generation portfolio, a systemic approach that builds resilience against climate change impacts.