Fiji will be part of 79 countries that are members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States that will sign a partnership agreement that will both govern and forge strengthened relations with the European Union (EU) for the next 20 years.
To be signed in Samoa next week, the agreement succeeds the Cotonou Agreement and other ACP-EU partnership agreements that have been signed since the first Lomé Convention of 1975.
“We are just a few days away from a historic moment in Pacific-EU relations: the signing of the Samoa Agreement which will take our partnership to the next level,” said Barbara Plinkert, EU’s head of delegation for the Pacific while speaking at the Pacific ACP Leaders Meeting in Cook Islands yesterday.
“In the last five years, EU imports from Pacific ACP Countries have increased from 1.3 ($F3.1) to 2.3 billion euros ($F5.7). The EU proudly guarantees full free access to the EU common market through the Economic Partnership Agreement.
“For example, our commitment and objectives are aligned when it comes to addressing the existential threat of climate change.
“We also firmly uphold the global rules-based order with the UN Charter at its core, as demonstrated by the Pacific solidarity in the condemnation of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“The upcoming signature of the Africa Caribbean Pacific — EU Partnership Agreement in Samoa is a major milestone.”
