Maldives government on Monday announced plans to hold high-level diplomatic consultations with the European Union (EU) later this week.
Maldives foreign ministry in a statement said the discussions would be held in Brussels from June 27 - 28.
The high-level ministerial delegation participating in the discussions include fofeign minister Dr Mohamed Asim, fisheries minister Dr Mohamed Shainee, legal affairs minister Aishath Azima Shakoo and Maldives ambassador to the EU Ahmed Shiaan.
"During the visit, the delegation will hold discussions with the European External Action Services (EEAS), European Parliament and other institutions of the European Union, to further strengthen the existing relations between the European Union and the Maldives, including in areas such as climate change, fisheries, Schengen visa facilitation, electoral and governance reform, countering terrorism and violent extremism and trade," the statement read.
Since 2015, the Maldives and the European Union have been holding annual high-level consultations in the Maldives within the context of the Maldives-EU Policy Dialogue.
"The high-level diplomatic consultations to be held in Brussels will provide yet another opportunity for a higher level of engagement between the EU and the Maldives as envisaged in the discussions held during the visit of the European External Action Services (EEAS) delegation to the Maldives in January 2018."
The relations between the EU and the incumbent Maldives government has been sour in the recent past over the deteriorating political and fundamental rights in the archipelago.
EU had recently cast doubts over the possibility of holding free and fair presidential elections in the Maldives which has been slated for September 23.
