european union

European FAO candidate promising Pacific focus

Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle is up against five other candidates to head the office.

Ms Geslain-Lanéelle said the Pacific had little representation within the organisation, which needs to change as the challenges the region faces are immense.

"And this region is very much affected by climate change. We still have countries where have hunger, we have malnutrition and where we have food waste and loss. So this is important to address all of these challenges."

PNG deepens trading arrangements with EU, ACP

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Rimbink Pato, who attended the ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on 26 October, signed the ACP Administrative Cooperation Agreement (ACA).

This makes it possible for PNG to enter into intra-ACP trade relations with the cumulation of the rules of origin.

Under this WTO multilateral trading rule, countries within the same Trade Agreement region could cumulate rules of origin.

EU brings relief to victims of Ambae volcanic eruption in Vanuatu

The aid will directly benefit up to 5 000 people in some of the worst-hit areas in southern and eastern parts of Ambae Island, including Santo, Maewo, and Pentecost.

Pacific ACP leaders want no more cuts to EDF11 funding

The leaders and representatives of 14 Pacific ACP states met in Apia, Samoa today to discuss concerns about significant delays in the programming of the EDF 11 Pacific Regional Indicative Programme (PRIP) and other partnerships related to the EU.

At a press conference after the meeting, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor expressed disappointment at the delay.

“We are disappointed because our countries have been insisting on the drawdown of these funds and the negotiations have been protracted,” she said.

EU and Pacific to discuss Cotonou replacement in Apia

The agreement outlines the EU's commitments in terms of aid, trade and development to countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

There are 14 Pacific members of the ACP and the EU has already indicated it wants a more region specific approach.

The EU's Pacific Ambassador, Andrew Jacobs, said it had already been made clear that the Pacific wants a diversified approach that reflects the region's challenges.

EU slaps Google with record $2.7 billion fine

The European Commission found that the U.S. tech giant denied "consumers a genuine choice" by using its search engine to unfairly steer them to its own shopping platform.

Regulators said that Google must change its behavior within 90 days or face additional penalties.

PM Salwai meets with EU reps in Port Vila

Mr Manservisi spent a few hours in Port Vila on his way to New Caledonia for his official visit.

While in Port Vila, he met Mr Salwai in the PM’s Office.

Mr Manservisi was accompanied by Jobst Von Kirchmann, who is the head of Unit at DEVCO in charge of Development Coordination for Centrale Asia,Middle East,Gulf, Pacific and Global Asia initiatives, Julian Wilson, Head of Division to the European External Action Service in charge of relations with Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

EU eyes 'new era' of partnership with Pacific

With the EU's current partnership agreement with the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries expiring in 2020, they are working towards a new agreement.

Stefano Manservisi, the Director-General of DEVCO, is visiting the Pacific, taking in visits to Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand.

He said the EU was proposing to embed in a new agreement a "specific Pacific pillar", based on common objectives.

Brexit: EU says it doesn't want to 'punish' Britain for leaving

"Brexit is punitive enough," said Donald Tusk, President of the European Council.

The EU nevertheless set out a tough set of principles for Brexit negotiations. They offer the possibility that trade talks could begin before the UK leaves -- but only after "sufficient progress" is made on the complex task of untangling Britain from the EU.

In her letter triggering the UK's formal exit from the EU, British Prime Minister Theresa May had asked for a parallel approach from the start.

EU and Germany working together in Kiribati

The work, for which $US686, 000 had been provided, would be implemented by Germany's International Co-operation agency.

The climate change project entails strengthening capacities of Kiribati's technical agencies and some communities to help them to undertake coastal-land use vulnerability & adaptation assessments.

The sustainable energy project entails the design, installation and sustainable management of solar energy systems, at two boarding schools.