The European Union (EU) Delegation for the Pacific issues the following press release following the 50th Pacific Islands Forum and Related Meetings held in Tuvalu from 13-16 August.
The EU is currently upgrading the framework for relations through a revision of the Cotonou agreement between EU and the countries in the Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean. In doing so the EU seeks to respond more effectively to the particular challenges, opportunities and ambitions of our Pacific partners through a specific Pacific protocol. Special consideration in the new EU-Pacific partnership will be given to addressing the impact of climate change on the Blue Pacific and protecting the ocean, which was also the focus of the Forum Dialogue Partners session.
The Kainaki II Declaration for Urgent Climate Change Action Now agreed by the PIF leaders in Tuvalu sends a clear and timely message ahead of the UN Climate Change summit in September. Climate Action is among key priorities for the European Union. The EU is committed to fully implementing the Paris Agreement and cutting greenhouse gas emissions substantially. Climate mitigation and adaptation as well as broader resilience action is central to the EU action internally and externally. The EU has currently committed over EUR 200 million in programmes supporting the Pacific to develop resilience to climate change. While building up resilience and addressing the causes of climate change, it is important to prepare for the concrete security consequences of climate change. The EU will therefore look specifically at how to support the Pacific Island Countries in implementing the Boe declaration.
EU has been increasing its engagement on oceans as a foreign and security policy issue. It will continue to promote sustainable fisheries and work together with the Pacific Island Countries to fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The EU is also committed to strengthening sustainable, comprehensive and rules-based connectivity across the Pacific region, with focus on regional trade, resilient transport links, digital networks and people-to-people contacts.
The European Union is committed to further strengthening its wide-ranging and long-standing partnership with the Pacific to promote a safe, secure and prosperous future for the people of the region. The European Union will continue working together with the Pacific partners in various fora to uphold multilateralism and the rules-based global order and advance our common agenda on climate change, biodiversity and environment protection, ocean governance, maritime security, human rights, and the broader peace and security issues.