DODOMA-The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has followed the debate and vote held in the European Parliament on 18 June 2026 regarding the 2026 Partnership Programme between Tanzania and the European Union, amounting to a total of EUR 156 million.
The Government has noted that, following the vote, various reports have appeared in some media outlets and on social media giving an inaccurate interpretation of the meaning of that vote. In light of this, the Government wishes to provide the following clarification:
First, the vote taken in the European Parliament is not the final decision of the European Union regarding the 2026 Partnership Programme with Tanzania.
The vote is part of the internal process of the institutions of the European Union, through which the Parliament has expressed its views and recommendations to other authorities responsible for the final decision.
Second, contrary to some reports being circulated, the recommendations made by the European Parliament do not amount to a suspension of funds for partnership programmes being implemented or expected to be implemented in the country.
What the Parliament has recommended is that the Programme be reviewed and resubmitted. Furthermore, under the existing procedures, any review of a partnership programme is undertaken through consultations and agreement between both parties and is ultimately approved through a Joint Financial Agreement between the Government and the European Union. Therefore, such decisions are not unilateral and will not be unilateral.
It is also important for the public to understand that, out of the EUR 156 million being referred to, only EUR 17 million had been planned to be channelled directly to the Government through official Government systems.
The remaining amount, approximately EUR 139 million, had from the outset been planned for implementation through designated European Union institutions, institutions of European Union Member States, as well as civil society organisations. Therefore, from the outset, the larger part of the Programme funds had not been planned to enter directly into Government systems.
Third, some of the issues contained in the adopted resolution do not fully reflect the truth and the reality of the situation in Tanzania, nor the steps that the Government continues to take following the events of October 2025.
The Government provided detailed clarification on those steps to the European Parliament and to all Members of that Parliament before the vote.
The Government therefore regrets that, despite the facts having been communicated, the issues reflected in the resolution did not take those facts into account.
The Government wishes to assure the public that relations between the United Republic of Tanzania and the European Union remain strong, friendly, and strategic, and continue to be strengthened in various areas of mutual benefit.
Furthermore, we have formal mechanisms for consultation and communication on all matters affecting these relations whenever the need arises.
