Corrado Pampaloni, EU Ambassador to The Gambia And President Adama Barrow
By Fatou Sillah
The European Union Ambassador to The Gambia, Corrado Pampaloni, has expressed optimism that the new draft constitution will likely complete the country’s democratic transition. The draft, which has recently been gazetted, is anticipated to be tabled at the National Assembly in December.
“The support that the European Union has given to the Gambia to achieve some of their main tasks so what we mentioned was the transition to a full democratic country that we will probably complete the cycle with the new constitution,” Ambassador Pampaloni stated.
He highlighted the significance of the draft constitution, noting, “The new constitution as you know has been just gazetted. That will be a period where the stakeholder will have to comment, but it is a good step forward, and I leave the country happy that we are at this point”.
On security sector reform, the Ambassador noted substantial progress, mentioning ongoing EU support in establishing an international tribunal. He remarked, “Under the security sector reform, we have made a big step forward. We are still supporting the government to create an international tribunal. I am also happy that in the new constitution there is a mention of an international tribunal so with the new constitution the Gambia will be able to go there if they need to so that is very good,” he said.
Ambassador Pampaloni also discussed the EU’s broader contributions to The Gambia, emphasizing their extensive cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations, UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA.
“We have done lots of projects where the government is aware but is not a direct stakeholder. We were working with international organizations, like the United Nations, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA so we are doing a three hundred and Sixty degree cooperation with the country,” he said.
Addressing the issue of migration, the Ambassador stressed a holistic approach. “Under migration that is not only one aspect, but we need to consider migration as a three hundred and sixty degree problems that starts with the reason why young Gambians wants to leave the country so this why is called the root cause, and we are working on the root causes of the Gambia because as his Excellency Barrow said the richness of a country is the youth and if we don’t help the youth to remind In the country that richness goes away,”
Ambassador Pampaloni made these remarks following a farewell meeting with President Adama Barrow at State House in Banjul.