The Government of Tanzania has urged the public and stakeholders to exercise calm and avoid misinterpreting a recent vote by committees of the European Parliament on the 2025 EU–Tanzania Development Cooperation Programme, clarifying that the decision is part of an ongoing legislative process and is not final.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation responded to reports suggesting that the committee-level vote could significantly alter or suspend development cooperation between Tanzania and the European Union.
The ministry emphasized that such interpretations are misleading, as the process has not yet reached its final stage.
The ministry explained that the vote was conducted at committee level within the European Parliament’s internal structures, specifically the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development.
The proposals were adopted with 81 votes in favor, one against, and four abstentions. However, it stressed that this stage represents only an initial step in a broader institutional process.
According to the statement, any committee-approved recommendations must still be presented for debate and voting before the full Plenary of the European Parliament, which comprises more than 700 Members of the European Parliament.
Only after plenary approval can any position be considered final within the Parliament’s legislative framework.
The government further clarified the institutional structure of the European Union, noting that formal cooperation agreements and development financing arrangements are primarily managed through the European Commission, rather than parliamentary committees alone.
This distinction, it said, is essential for accurately understanding how EU development decisions are made.
“The vote represents only one stage of an ongoing institutional process and should not be interpreted as the final position of the European Parliament on the matter,” the ministry stated, adding that Tanzania remains confident in the strength and continuity of its partnership with the European Union.
The statement reaffirmed that diplomatic and development relations between Tanzania and the EU remain strong, stable, and guided by mutual respect and shared development priorities.
It added that ongoing cooperation continues across key sectors, including governance, infrastructure, and social services.
The government also called on the public to rely on official sources when interpreting international developments, especially those involving complex legislative procedures within partner institutions.
