The bilateral relations between Italy and Zimbabwe may best be described as constructive even if influenced by the difficult conditions of the country’s governability as well as the restrictive measures imposed against it by the European Union. However, and in line with the strategy followed by other Western Countries, Italy has kept its cooperation commitments alive in the humanitarian field. 
The European Union is Zimbabwe’s main donor in spite of the fact that, following the deterioration of the internal situation, no direct intervention has been carried out in support of Government spending. 
In June 2009, during Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangiari’s visit to Brussels, the political dialogue as referred to in Art. 8 of the Cotonou Convention was officially reopened with the aim of including Zimbabwe in the partnership programme currently in force between the European Union and the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) Countries.