EU-Pacific Islands Forum Troika Ministerial Meeting
Official representatives who were present at the ministers' meeting
© Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes
- On: 16.09.2008
- In: Brussels
The discussions of the first European Union - Pacific Islands Forum Troika Ministerial Meeting focused on governance, economic stability, growth and international trade, climate change, and cooperation in development and fishing.
The troika was led by the French Minister of State for Cooperation and the Francophonie, Alain Joyandet, and the Premier of Niue, Toke Tufukia Talagi. A final communiqué was adopted, and ministers plan to hold the next troika meeting in the second half of 2011. In the meantime, senior officials will meet in Suva in the first six months of 2009 as part of EU-Pacific dialogue.
The delegations were united in their views on the situation in the Pacific region, and particularly with regard to Fiji where political developments are of concern to both the EU and the PIF. A high-level EU troika mission travelled to Fiji in June 2008 and a mission from the PIF's ministerial contact group was sent in July 2008 to encourage Fiji's interim government to honour the commitments undertaken in 2007 with respect to the return to democracy and the holding of elections by March 2009. It is within this context that the EU reiterated its support for the PIF's efforts, particularly as regards promoting the resumption of dialogue between the various Fijian political actors.
The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union welcomed the work carried out by the PIF's Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) with a view to improving the political situation in the Solomon Islands. It also welcomed the results obtained by the Pacific Regional Assistance to Nauru (PRAN) programme in combating the serious local economic crisis. The European Commission will continue to support these two missions.
In addition, before the end of 2008, the EU will sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the ACP countries of the Pacific, which may subsequently be extended to the service sector. This agreement should promote regional economic integration efforts such as the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) and the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus.
The discussions on climate change enabled some common objectives to be outlined, namely reaching an agreement on a post-2012 regime under the United Nations Convention; supporting the Global Climate Change Alliance in the context of dialogue between the EU and developing countries (especially the region's small island states); and defining action priorities.
The conclusion of negotiations on the Regional Strategy for the Pacific (RSP) and the Regional Indicative Programme, whose budget has been tripled to €95 million, will help the ACP countries in the Pacific to benefit from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).
The crucial importance of the fishing sector to the region's island states was underlined as well as the need to continue efforts in the fight against illegal fishing, and undeclared or underdeclared catches.
- Updated: 25.11.2008
