The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, affirmed that it was absolutely clear that this time Panama would not be excluded from the European Union's blacklist, while reiterating the restriction for member countries of that bloc to participate in bidding processes for state projects in Panama. Mulino explained that the measure seeks to protect national interests and ensure that public procurement is carried out transparently, avoiding the influence of companies involved in questionable practices according to European standards. The head of state indicated that, although remaining on the list was predictable, the Government is already preparing for the next review in October and will continue to comply with the necessary recommendations to achieve Panama's removal from this situation. On his X account, he recalled that all state entities have received clear instructions to adhere to the directive not to allow the participation of European companies in bidding processes, ensuring that the decision is applied uniformly in all sectors. The measure reinforces the stance of protecting economic sovereignty and exercising control over strategic infrastructure and service projects. On the diplomatic front, Panama maintains its firm position while awaiting the next evaluation, aware that every move could determine its removal from the list.
