In a joint statement, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and EU High Representative and Vice President of the Commission, Josep Borrell, said:

We are pleased to have reached an agreement together, based on goodwill and pragmatism, on an Establishment Agreement for the EU Delegation to the UK. The EU Ambassador will have a status consistent with heads of missions of states, including agrément and presentation of the credentials to the Head of State. EU Delegation staff will have the privileges and immunities needed to function effectively, while allowing for effective administration of justice, and we look forward to moving ahead and tackling global challenges together.

They also discussed future EU – UK cooperation on foreign and security policy and avenues for stepping up joint work on climate change and climate diplomacy, including ahead of the Glasgow COP26.

The Foreign Secretary and the High Representative also exchanged on the Cyprus settlement talks. They stressed the need to build the momentum for a next meeting of the two sides and underlined their full support to the UN efforts in the process.

Following their meeting, they released this joint statement:

“Today we met to discuss a range of issues. We agreed on the need to work together in close partnership to protect and uphold all aspects of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement in all circumstances.

“We have also agreed to convene a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in June, to discuss matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments as the Agreement intended.

“We are aware that there are sincerely held concerns in different communities in Northern Ireland in relation to a number of issues and firmly agree that the best way forward is through dialogue and engagement.

“We recognise the responsibility we all bear to enhance the confidence of everyone in Northern Ireland in all the institutions of the Agreement to help realise its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem.”

Work to enable the safe return to international travel continues today (5 May 2021) at a meeting of transport ministers hosted by UK government Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

The virtual meeting brought together transport ministers from the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the EU Commission to identify common goals and principles that will help develop globally recognised travel standards for when international travel reopens. This includes best practices for sharing scientific data and promoting coordination on universally recognised travel certificates.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

If we’re to safely and sustainably restart international travel on a global scale, we need a robust, accessible and coordinated approach.

That’s why I’ve brought together my G7 counterparts to identify shared goals, address challenges we may face and progress work on a coordinated approach that will allow us to build back better as we look to the future.

At today’s meeting, the Secretary of State also outlined the UK government’s approach to reopening international travel through the recommendations of the Global Travel Taskforce report. Published last month, the report sets out a framework to restart international travel from 17 May at the earliest through the introduction of a traffic light system.

As part of this, the UK government continues to play a leading role in the development of international standards around digital travel certifications. Work continues across the UK government to prioritise a solution to enable passengers to prove their COVID-19 status for vaccines for outbound travel to another country.

Communities in Quiché (Cunén), Huehuetenango (San Ildefonso Ixtahuacán), and Izabal (El Estor) benefited from this initiative launched together by the British Embassy and UK based NGO, AMOR. Total investment was more than 90,000 quetzals.

Community Health Volunteers held weekly clinics and conducted home visits to educate on COVID-19 prevention and about the prevention and treatment of other common diseases affecting indigenous communities. The programme included training in Mayan traditional medicine.

As part of the results of the project, the Health Volunteers reported an increase in confidence regarding their knowledge on traditional medicinal plants and first aider techniques. The project also evidenced that local authorities, including health centre staff, are eager to get involved in similar training opportunities.

In 2020, the UK committed up to £313 million of UK Aid to support research and development for vaccines, treatments and tests to ensure new tools against COVID-19 are available to all, including the world’s poorest countries.

In Guatemala, and as soon as the pandemic exploded, the UK invested in several projects aimed at tackling the impact of the COVID-19. Special assistance was also provided to help indigenous communities in Sololá to cover some of their basic food needs, and work with AGEXPORT to encourage municipalities to develop and implement COVID-19 protocols and economic reactivation.