european union

The EU and Government of Samoa sign a new Agreement

The Agreement was signed by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi and the European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation & Development Mr. Neven Mimica on Wednesday the 15th of June.

$1 billion for Pacific energy projects

“The $635 million committed at the 2013 Pacific Energy Summit has translated into over $900 million of investments across 70 projects,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully says.

“In the same way, I hope to see the $1 billion of commitments announced today increase as opportunities for leverage become apparent, and as the ambition of partners grows.

“With the growing role for the private sector and the prospect of access to the UN Green Climate Fund there should be significant potential to further expand our efforts in this area.

Samoa needs to increase exports to European countries says PM

He was responding to a decision by the EU to close its office in Apia and centralise its efforts in a regional office in Fiji.

"The EU has been helping with a lot of development and assistances in Samoa. The biggest ones are the big water tanks that have been installed and will provide water for Faasaleleaga and the many schools they helped fund," he added.

However, the PM says things have been going one-sided for the EU, which would explain why they might lose interest in Samoa and that is his biggest fear.

PNG-EU yellow card success a Pacific inspiration, says FFA

The EU market-- the world’s leading recipient of tuna, has stringent rules on processing ensuring safety for consumers, and sourcing rules to ensure fish were caught in compliance with fishing rules and reporting processes. The EU market is the largest recipient of PNG’s tuna, valued at around 140mUSD annually.

EU welcomes Fiji’s abolishment of death penalty

The European Union has welcomed Fiji’s decision to abolish the death penalty through the RFMF Amendment Act of 2015.

EU Ambassador to the Pacific, Andrew Jacobs, says this is a big step forward for the nation as Fiji prepare to commemorate World Day against the Death Penalty on Saturday.

He adds that it’s important to continue to push for the abolishment of death penalty worldwide- as it represents an inhumane, degrading treatment.

EU warns Taiwan over Pacific fishing

The EU issued the 'yellow card' after a pirate tuna vessel was busted fishing in Papua New Guinea waters by the NGO three weeks ago.

This means Taiwan, which has the biggest fishing fleet in the Pacific, may face European sanctions and import bans if changes aren't made.

An oceans campaigner for Greenpeace, Karly Thomas, says Taiwan has too many boats flying its flag with too little control.

EU and Solomon Islands sign SB$360 million development partnership

The EU-Solomon Islands National Indicative Programme (NIP), supported by a bilateral financial envelope of SB$360 million (US$44.7 million) from the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), will target improvements to Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) and Rural Development. 

The programme has been prepared jointly by the European Union and the Government of Solomon Islands to address key development challenges in rural and urban areas of the country. 

Media rights group says EU is too soft on Hungary

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said in Tuesday's report "Balancing Act" that the 28-nation bloc was struggling to match its lofty human rights standards with its day-to-day actions in protecting journalists within the EU and around the world.

"There are significant challenges that undermine press freedom and new threats are emerging," the report concluded.

Deeply-divided EU to hold emergency summit on migrant crisis

Around half a million people have fled to Europe so far this year in search of sanctuary or jobs. As numbers swell, nations have tightened border security. Hungary has a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia.

Countries in eastern Europe with little recent experience of migration are trading barbs over who is to blame, while Balkans neighbors Serbia and Croatia — who were at war in the early 1990s — issued threats and ultimatums.

EU urges Libya parties to grasp peace deal

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Wednesday that the parties "are now really in the last mile" and must take their responsibilities and bring an end to a year of crisis.

She said the EU stands "ready from day zero to support, financially and in all possible ways they would wish."

Libya is divided between an Islamist-backed government in Tripoli and an internationally recognized leadership based in the east.