Within the final a number of years, Mongolia’s relationship with the European Union – versus purely bilateral diplomacy – has change into extra vital to Ulaanbaatar’s engagement with Europe. The EU is stepping up its sport within the Indo-Pacific as properly, signing a historic free commerce take care of India that’s poised to change financial flows within the area.
The Diplomat spoke with Ambassador/Head of Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia Ina Marciulionyte on Mongolia-EU relations, collaboration initiatives, and what’s subsequent the relations in a shortly altering geopolitical setting.
Mongolia and the EU celebrated their thirty fifth anniversary in 2024. How would you assess the previous bilateral relations? What had been the previous shortcomings and the way can relations be augmented?
Over time, the EU and Mongolia have constructed a robust relation of confidence and have demonstrated solidarity on a number of events. As an example, the EU has actively supported Mongolia in the course of the COVID-19 disaster, in addition to offered emergency funding in response to the 2024 dzud and drought that affected a whole bunch of 1000’s of herders. We had finished so already in 2017.
In 2017, the EU opened a diplomatic mission in Ulaanbaatar, which allowed me to fulfill with authorities ministers, Members of Parliament, native governors, and enterprise representatives. I had additionally commonly met with Mongolian residents, youth particularly, who’re a big a part of the Mongolia’s inhabitants.
As well as, Mongolia additionally shares democracy and the acknowledgement that elementary freedoms have to be protected. These values are shared and align with the EU.
Since 2024 – which marked 35 years of diplomatic relations – we’ve got began exchanges on peace and safety, a precedence for Mongolia as for the EU. With the help of the EU International Coverage Devices facility, a bunch of Mongolian peacekeepers was skilled in Slovenia on the gender dimension of peacekeeping operations. And the EU needs to have interaction extra carefully within the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Peace and Safety in Northeast Asia.
Final however not least, the Mongolia-EU cooperation initiatives help Mongolia in reaching Sustainable Improvement Targets and gaining financial and political independence in relation with its geography.
What are a few of the present EU initiatives being carried out in Mongolia, notably within the power sector and renewable power?
Our works prioritize sustainable improvement, financial improvement, and democracy in Mongolia. As a part of our mission, the EU at present has a big mission to implement the Forest Partnership signed by President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and the president of the European Fee in 2022. The partnership goals at enhancing the sustainable administration of forests in Mongolia and at modernizing agriculture, particularly cashmere and the meat worth chain. I consider that it’s pressing to scale back grazing strain on Mongolian steppes which can be in nice hazard of disappearing, leaving a desertified panorama as an alternative.
Mongolia can be internet hosting the COP17 of the UNCCD this coming August and is predicted to showcase Mongolia’s efforts in managing rangelands and nomadic herding.
The EU additionally helps Mongolia’s shift of power manufacturing from brown to inexperienced by financing a transmission line between Sainshand and Choir within the Gobi space, along with connecting photo voltaic and wind farms to the remainder of the grid. We’re additional investments within the sector within the quick time period, with potentialities for era, transmission, storage but in addition power financial savings with higher insulation. That being mentioned, the EU works carefully with EBRD and the European Funding Financial institution to help Mongolia’s effort on this matter.
The EU and India just lately signed a free commerce settlement, which has been dubbed the “mom of all offers.” What does this entail for nations like Mongolia, when it comes to establishing new commerce patterns and being versatile in occasions of uncertainties?
The message EU and India gave with the strategic agreements they signed, together with the Joint Strategic Agenda and the Safety and Protection Partnership, is that they each goal at stability and predictability throughout the worldwide rules-based order with the U.N. at its middle. The free commerce settlement provides a robust message on the significance of diversifying our provide chains. I hope it will likely be an inspiration for Mongolia as regards the significance of strengthening the U.N. in these troublesome occasions. As well as, on commerce, [the FTA holds lessons for] creating new alternatives for Mongolian exports with out endangering native corporations and fostering power independence by means of funding in renewable power.
The zero-duty EU export scheme, known as GSP+, which applies to Mongolia is just not but used to its most potentialities. The conclusion of an EU-Mongolia settlement on Geographical Indications would allow Mongolia to promote its cashmere at the next worth within the EU and discover markets for high-quality merchandise equivalent to leather-based, honey, and different agricultural or artisanal items. And it’s actually a time for Mongolia not solely to discuss renewable power however to successfully launch extra initiatives: the potential on this immense nation is shiny and the power independence is inside attain. Time has come to boost the sport.
Mongolia has been implementing what is called “third neighbor” overseas coverage. In your view, how can Ulaanbaatar’s multilateralism be bolstered with newer mechanisms? Contemplating Mongolia’s curiosity in establishing strong financial hyperlinks with its third neighbors, what’s the probability of recent mechanisms, equivalent to one linking the EU, India, and Mongolia?
Mongolia doesn’t want new mechanisms nor to reinvent the wheel: it wants investments from extra nations. In my opinion, the primary obstacles that forestall extra overseas investments are the small dimension of Mongolia’s inhabitants, the geographical location that makes commerce difficult together with due to logistics, authorized uncertainties on funding guidelines, and weaknesses of the judiciary.
On the latter challenge, the EU implements a lot of initiatives in Mongolia. In October 2025, we’ve got organized the primary ever EU-Mongolia Enterprise and Funding Discussion board that has attracted over 700 individuals from Europe and Mongolia, together with 70 European corporations, most travelling from Europe and lots of for the primary time. Mongolia’s Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav (Editor’s observe: Zandanshatar resigned in Could 2026) opened the discussion board, and a number of other ministers in addition to Members of Parliament attended as panelists. One of many main success of the discussion board was that the European Funding Financial institution and Mongolia signed an settlement that opens the door to 1 billion euros in European funding.
The EU has a robust, built-in mechanism for combating misinformation, disinformation, and cyber crimes. How is the EU helping Mongolia to thwart such challenges, particularly in an period of digitalism?
Disinformation is just not one thing new, however certainly new applied sciences have helped it to unfold and synthetic intelligence widens the overseas info manipulation and interference (FIMI) toolkit. In a rustic like Mongolia the place social media play a serious function, it has change into a supply of concern as it might weaken democracy although election interference or biased protests protection, and facilitate violation of elementary rights such because the rights to non-public integrity and privateness.
Mongolia can have vital elections in 2027 and 2028, and certainly one can fear about overseas interference. The EU has constructed up capabilities to establish, analyze and reply to FIMI since 2015 to deal with Russian disinformation campaigns within the context of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. As an example, the EU vs Disinfo web site consists of the world’s largest public archive of pro-Kremlin disinformation.
The EU and EU member states had some initiatives in Mongolia already. The EU can be pleased to help Mongolia in constructing additional its counter-FIMI agenda.
You could have an intensive expertise working with various cultures. What’s one factor that stands out to you about Mongolia’s tradition?
I’m impressed by how authentically welcoming Mongolian individuals are with foreigners. I observed that particularly throughout my visits within the provinces: every time, I meet with improbable folks, who’re keen to point out what they do and to know what the EU does in Mongolia.
I’m additionally deeply touched by Mongolia’s wealthy cultural heritage and the attachment to the traditions of Mongolians, one thing that communism has tried to erase. Fortuitously, traditions equivalent to Tsagaan Sar and Naadam proceed to play a central function in society, even for youthful generations. However quite a lot of work is required to revive this heritage and to make sure continuity. I consider that Mongolia’s third neighbors ought to do extra cultural diplomacy.
