Pacific ACP Leaders' Meeting

Pacific ACP Leaders' Meeting

41st PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
PORT VILA, REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
3 – 6 AUGUST 2010

Progress in the implementation of the Pacific Regional Indicative Programme of the European Development Fund (EDF)-10 has been pleasing despite the time taken and the many technicalities and difficulties encountered in developing the regional strategy for the Programme.

The Pacific ACP countries receive direct assistance through their National Indicative Programmes, negotiated bilaterally with the European Union (EU). As a region there is the Pacific Regional Indicative Programme that is administered through the office of the Secretary General of the Forum.

In his opening remarks at the 8th meeting of Pacific ACP Leaders in Port Vila, Vanuatu today, Forum Secretariat Secretary General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade said: “The Forum Secretariat is pleased to report to Pacific ACP Leaders that despite the difficulties encountered in developing the regional strategy, progress in the implementation of the regional indicative programme has picked up momentum and the rate of commitment of funds is generally satisfactory.

Mr Slade told the PACP Leaders, which excludes Australia and New Zealand, the first three Financing Agreements under the EDF – 10 Regional Indicative Programme were signed earlier this year committing a total of 21.9 million Euros.

“We aim to commit 32 million Euros in 2010 with the remaining balance to be committed by 2012,” said Mr Slade.

The three Financing Agreements are for the Deep Sea Minerals in the Pacific, Scientific Support for Management of Coastal & Oceanic Fisheries and Development of Tuna Fisheries in the Pacific Phase II.

On the issue of the negotiations for a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU, Mr Slade told Leaders that the negotiations are still ongoing.

“As of this time, only Papua New Guinea and Fiji have initialed an Interim EPA with the EU. Four more countries, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Niue and Samoa have expressed interest in signing up.
“Fisheries have emerged as a contentious issue and I hope that this can be resolved soon through discussions amongst the Pacific ACP officials,” Mr Slade told the PACP Leaders.

With the implementation of the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), Mr Slade said that it is progressing much better than last time the Secretariat reported to PACP Leaders on the issue.

“There are seven Forum Island Countries, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu which have announced their readiness to trade under PICTA. And I encourage the remaining seven countries to make the necessary arrangements soon for trading under the Agreement.”

Mr Christian Leffler, the Deputy Director-General, Directorate General for Development and Relations with ACP States based in Brussels is expected to address the meeting on the European Commission’s commitment to the region under the Cotonou Agreement. Leaders will also hear from Dr Mohamed Chambas, Secretary General of the ACP Group of States.

ENDS.