Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on Khadka Raj Poudel, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, on May 5, 2026, at the Ministry in Kathmandu.
During the meeting, Ambassador Lorenzo reaffirmed the European Union’s strong commitment to supporting Nepal in enhancing its aviation safety standards and regulatory framework.
Discussions on Tourism, Culture, and Aviation Safety
The meeting focused on key areas including cultural cooperation, tourism promotion, and aviation safety. Both sides exchanged views on ongoing efforts and future collaboration in these sectors. Minister Poudel highlighted Nepal’s unique strengths, emphasizing that its rich cultural heritage, spiritual traditions, and natural beauty position the country as a potential global hub for wellness and spiritual tourism.
He also briefed the Ambassador on policy reforms and initiatives aimed at promoting tourism, including the development of wellness tourism, as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen aviation safety and institutional capacity of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
Shared Goal to Remove Nepal from EU Air Safety List
Ambassador Veronique Lorenzo congratulated Minister Poudel on his role and expressed the EU’s readiness to collaborate in promoting Nepal’s culture and tourism sectors. She emphasized that removing Nepal from the EU Air Safety List remains a shared priority for both Nepal and the European Union. The Ambassador also acknowledged Nepal’s continued efforts to improve aviation safety and its proactive approach in addressing regional aviation challenges.
The courtesy meeting is expected to further strengthen the partnership between Nepal and the European Union, particularly in the areas of culture, tourism development, and aviation safety. Both sides expressed confidence that continued dialogue and cooperation would help elevate Nepal-EU relations to new heights while supporting Nepal’s ambitions for safer skies and sustainable tourism growth.
