Overview
Mauritania is a West African country which borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west for about 750 km. Approximately 90% of its landmass is located within the Sahara Desert. Despite its substantial size, Mauritania has a population of 5 million people - and it is one of the less densely populated countries in the world.
Rich in mineral and fish reserves, Mauritania’s economy heavily depends on commodity exports, primarily iron, ore, gold, copper, oil, and fish. The country is committed to diversifying its economy, increasing the export value of its non-mining sectors, and integrating the global market.
Our partnership
The EU and Mauritania share an excellent partnership, as evidenced by the quality of the political dialogue and the EU’s significant investment in the country.
The EU supports Mauritania towards sustainable and inclusive development in line with the ’Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity‘ - the Mauritania roadmap 2016-2030 and the Global Gateway Strategy.
In our current ongoing cooperation, we share many common interests, ranging from the accelerated green transition to regional stability in West Africa and in the Sahel, fisheries, and orderly migration management.
Team Europe in Mauritania brings together the EU, the European Investment Bank, France, Germany, and Spain.
In the decade 2014-2024, the EU has been allocating to Mauritania over €1 billion, including EU-Mauritania Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement.
EU-Mauritania partnership programming documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our flagship initiatives
- Green transition
Mauritania has large-scale development potential on renewable sources of energy, and the green hydrogen sector is very promising. Team Europe is supporting Mauritania to deliver universal electricity access to its citizens and achieve its vision for sustainable economic development.
- Green Hydrogen – Assisting the country in developing its green hydrogen potential notably by supporting the drawing up of the Hydrogen Code, developing relevant skills through actions on vocational training, and infrastructure projects to facilitate transport.
- Electrification – Supporting amongst others rural electrification, and a solar power plant in Kiffa.
- Sustainable food systems – Working to rehabilitate and expand rural infrastructure and to develop promising value chains such as market gardening, local cereals, and dairy.
- Blue economy
The EU-Mauritania partnership promotes the blue economy in the country by contributing to the improvement of ocean and coastline governance, by protecting marine ecosystems through eco-friendly fishing, and by strengthening fisheries value chains with the construction of land and seaport infrastructure.
The EU and Mauritania have signed a Sustainable Fisheries partnership agreement. This is the largest fisheries agreement between the EU and a third country. It seeks to promote responsible fishing and minimise fishing impacts on marine ecosystems, while at the same time being in line with EU fisheries policy and respecting the activities of the Mauritanian coastal and artisanal fleets.
Team Europe support includes actions improving ports and coastal facilities by building on existing land infrastructure in key areas along the Mauritanian coast while promoting environmentally friendly fishing systems and strengthening the fisheries value chain
- Digital
In the past decade, Mauritania has been advancing fast to expand broadband networks and to offer digital public services to its population. Team Europe is supporting these efforts.
- Submarine cable – Working to connect Mauritania with a new submarine cable. This will provide a back-up solution to the current single submarine cable (African Coast to Europe - ACE) and will provide additional data capacity to cope with the growing volume of traffic, for both Mauritania and its landlocked neighbours.
- Data centre – Supporting a new digital data centre in Nouakchott that will strengthen Mauritania’s digital sovereignty and reinforce the country’s security standards for exchange of digital data.
- Migration and forced displacement
Mauritania hosts over 277 000 refugees and asylum seekers and is increasingly a transit country for irregular migration along the route towards the Canary Islands. It is a key partner for Team Europe on migration, and a Joint Declaration adopted in March 2024 sets the stage for a comprehensive cooperation.
- Border and migration management – Strengthening Mauritania’s capacity to manage its borders and fight migrant smuggling and trafficking.
- Forced displacement – Providing access to international protection, social services, and reinforcing the reception capacities of Mauritanian authorities.
- Peace and security
The situation in the Sahel is challenging and Mauritania plays a vital role for the stability in the region. Team Europe is providing support to its security forces.
- Collège de Défense in Nouakchott – Providing education to senior military officers for the academic years 2023 to 2025.
- Military infrastructure – Reinforcing the military camp of N’Bekeit, in the Eastern part of the country.
- Military equipment – Providing non-lethal equipment for battalions to fight terrorism and secure the border with Mali.
- Human development
Team Europe promotes social cohesion and socio-economic development by supporting quality health and education and vocational training services.
- Supporting universal access to health, and maternal health.
- Promoting access to quality education through skills and enhancing job opportunities for youth.
