EU - PIFS: JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Fifteen Pacific-ACP Countries and Development Partners Meet in Suva
26 November 2019
Suva, Fiji: Government representatives from the 15 Pacific ACP Group of countries (PACP), regional implementing Agencies EDF funded programmes including the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies, Development partners including the United Nations and other international development organisations met in Suva today at the fourth meeting of the Regional Steering Committee for the Pacific (RSCP) for the 11th EDF PRIP, to discuss the implementation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Pacific Regional Indicative Programme (PRIP).
The meeting was hosted by PIFS in collaboration with the European Union (EU), being the duly mandated regional organisation for the Cooperation with the EU, and within its broader role in fostering regional cooperation.
The Regional Authorising Officer and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor co- chaired the meeting alongside Jean-Louis Ville, Head of Unit, DG DEVCO (East, South-East Asia and the Pacific)
The RSCP Meeting provided a consultative platform for discussion targeted towards ensuring effective and results-oriented implementation of the EU-Pacific regional programme.
Through the 11th EDF PRIP, the EU has committed a total of EUR 197 million (FJD 479 million) to support the Pacific PACP countries in sectors such as ocean protection and governance, waste management, public finance management, addressing root causes of gender inequality and violence against women, trade, investment and promotion of the private sector. Good progress has been made regards programming and implementation with the signature of most financing agreements and underlying contracts now completed, and inception and implementation has commenced for all the contracts that have been signed.
In addition, another EUR 200 million (FJD 486 million) are channelled to the Pacific region for Climate Change adaptation and environmental protection.
The meeting was also an opportunity to reflect on the future of EU-Pacific relations.
Within the margins of the RSCP, a signing ceremony took place for the bilateral EU funding (National Indicative Programmes (NIP)) for Kiribati (amounting to EUR 20.8 million focusing on resilience building in outer islands) and Federated States of Micronesia (amounting to EUR 14.2 million focusing on renewable energy).
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Greg Ravoi, Monitoring and Communications Officer| Email: gregoryr@forumsec.org| Phone: 3312 600 Mohammed-Nazeem Kasim, Press and Information Officer| Email: Mohammed-Nazeem.KASIM@eeas.europa.eu | Phone: +679 3313 633 ext. 110 or Mobile: +679 9920 597
