The EU and Pacific strengthen their partnership at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga

Commissioner Urpilainen said: "This period of geopolitical tension and instability demonstrates the critical need for strong, reliable partnerships to protect shared interests and values, such as advancing climate action and upholding the rules-based international order. The 40-year cooperation between the Pacific Island Countries and the European Union is a prime example of such a partnership. Today, we are strengthening our relations for even greater impact by celebrating and discussing the way forward of the Pacific protocol of the Samoa Agreement. Underpinned by the Global Gateway investment strategy, this protocol empowers us to drive people-centred development, climate action and sustainable prosperity."

Commissioner Urpilainen said: "This period of geopolitical tension and instability demonstrates the critical need for strong, reliable partnerships to protect shared interests and values, such as advancing climate action and upholding the rules-based international order. The 40-year cooperation between the Pacific Island Countries and the European Union is a prime example of such a partnership. Today, we are strengthening our relations for even greater impact by celebrating and discussing the way forward of the Pacific protocol of the Samoa Agreement. Underpinned by the Global Gateway investment strategy, this protocol empowers us to drive people-centred development, climate action and sustainable prosperity."

The European Union and the Pacific Island countries stand together in multilateral fora, particularly in tackling global issues like climate action, environmental protection, and ocean governance. The recent signing of the Samoa Agreement in Apia further strengthened this partnership, promising a more significant influence in creating a fairer, greener, and more peaceful world.

In Tonga, the Commissioner held bilateral meetings with high-level representatives of partner countries as well as other development partners to discuss cooperation priorities, and how the EU Global Gateway strategy can boost sustainable growth in the region. She made 4 announcements in support of a resilient and sustainable future for local populations:

1. Vanuatu: Full disbursement of the final €1.2 million Budget Support payment under the first phase of the Vanuatu Value Chain Programme supporting national policies for climate-resilient development of rural communities;
2. Tonga: Launch of a Technical Assistance worth €1 million to the Ministry of Energy to support the reforms to the energy institutional framework;
3. Samoa: Second disbursement worth €3.1 million of the Budget Support to enhance water resilience and adaptation to climate change;
4. Kiribati: Funding €2.5 million for the feasibility and design studies for the Multi-Purpose port that Kiribati intends to construct on Kiritimati Island, to create economic opportunities and enable the local community to move from overcrowded Tarawa.

The Commissioner visited the EU-funded Climate and WASH Resilience Community Project, which seeks to identify and support vulnerable households in better preparing for and responding to climate risks. The Commissioner also engaged with youth and civil society from the region. She emphasized the importance of youth involvement in policy-making, highlighting the recent launch of the EU Youth Empowerment Fund and the upcoming establishment of the EU Youth Sounding Board for the Pacific. With her background in education and experience as a schoolteacher and youth advocate, Commissioner Urpilainen's commitment to advocating for youth rights, empowerment, and access to quality education remains deeply personal. She encouraged ongoing engagement from the youth, as the EU seeks to elevate the voices and leadership of young people in policy-making, particularly integrating perspectives from the Pacific youth.

Background on the Samoa Agreement

Covering 106 nations and approximately 1.5 billion people, the Samoa Agreement represents a comprehensive partnership between the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). It establishes a framework for strategic partnerships focusing on key priorities such as environmental sustainability and climate change, inclusive and sustainable economic development, oceans, seas and fisheries, security, human rights, democracy and governance, and human and social development. The provisions of the Pacific Protocol are closely aligned with the thematic areas of the PIF 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and which strengthen collective responses to global challenges.

ENDS