Pacific leaders press for stronger EU partnership

Pacific leaders want the European Union partnership to produce visible results, not simply more institutions and procedures. That message dominated talks in Palau ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

Pacific ACP leaders met at the Belau National Museum and Culture Centre after a meeting of small island state leaders. Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr chaired the discussions, which covered the region’s economic outlook, implementation of the Samoa Agreement and priorities under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

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Today, and throughout this week, our discussions will focus on partnerships.

Whipps said the talks came as geopolitical pressure and uncertainty were growing, making regional partnerships more important. He encouraged countries that have not yet ratified the Samoa Agreement to do so, but said its success should be judged by what it allows Pacific countries to achieve.

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Its value must be measured by what it enables the Pacific to achieve.

He pointed to stronger political engagement, closer alignment between development cooperation and Pacific priorities, improved access to finance and stronger Pacific representation as outcomes the agreement should deliver. Existing ties with the EU had benefited the Pacific, he said, but they needed to become more agile as global conditions changed.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa said EU assistance remained central to the development and resilience of Pacific countries. He described the Samoa Agreement as a platform for advancing priorities under the 2050 Strategy and decisions by Forum leaders.

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Such partnerships must be agile and adaptable to keep up with the evolving world and environment around us.

Waqa said the Forum’s work on the 2050 Strategy and its review of regional architecture made the secretariat’s role in implementing the agreement particularly important. He also stressed the Pacific’s place within the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, saying the organization must respond to a rapidly changing global environment.

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The European Union’s assistance to the Pacific region continues to be key in the realisation of the development aspirations and resilience of our region, and countries.