By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Apia—Pacific island nations have sealed a comprehensive trade partnership with the European Union through the Samoa Agreement signed here on Nov 15.
Pacific island leaders joined Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa during the agreement signing with Georges Chikoti, secretary general of African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States; and Jutta Urpilainen, EU commissioner for International Partnerships.
"The Samoa Agreement is a milestone for multilateral transformation and with its name, puts both Samoa and the Blue Pacific continent in the global spotlight," said Henry Puna, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum.
More than 500 officials were in Samoa for the OACPS Council of Ministers Meeting, the 46th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers and the signing of the Samoa Agreement.
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Covering 106 nations of the world and some 1.5 billion people, the Samoa Agreement will become the first comprehensive partnership agreement between the OACPS and EU, to be signed in the Pacific.
The signing of the Samoa Agreement came on the heels of the Forum leaders recent endorsement of the 2050 Strategy Implementation Plan.
"I especially commend the prime minister and host nation of the Samoa Agreement for their support of the tireless efforts of diplomats, officials and Pacific negotiators who have served to ensure this new agreement will enhance areas of cooperation and engagement for the benefit of our Blue Pacific continent,” Puna said. “We look forward to supporting our member states in this new chapter.”
Thea Samoa Agreement succeeds the Post Cotonou negotiation strengthening relations between the EU and the member states of the OACP.
Pacific leaders said the agreement will strengthen cooperation between the EU and the OACPS and prioritize partnerships including human rights, democracy and governance, peace and security, human and social development, inclusive sustainable economic growth and development, environmental sustainability and climate change, migration and mobility.
The agreement features a common foundation text and three regional protocols to ensure a focus on the specific needs of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific region.
According to a press release from the Forum, the Pacific regional protocol provisions are directly aligned to the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy such as people-centered development, climate change and environment, economic development and resources.
The Samoa Agreement also provides an opportunity to highlight the opportunities and interlinkages of key partnerships and modalities of development, for the realization of the collective ambition under the 2050 Strategy.
The implementation of the Samoa Agreement and 2050 Strategy may be considered for financing under the Neighborhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument.
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