Overview
The 13 Pacific Islands Countries or 'PICs' (the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) cover an Exclusive Economic Zone close to the size of Sub-Saharan Africa, despite their land area being only the size of Lithuania and having only over 2.7 million inhabitants.
Together, the PICs and the EU champion the fight against the impact of climate change.
Our partnership
The partnership between the EU and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is founded on a strong sense of shared values, a mutual recognition of climate change as a critical global issue, and a joint commitment to fostering a low-carbon and resilient economy. This shared vision is encapsulated in the EU-Pacific Green Blue Alliance, a Team Europe Initiative (TEI) launched in 2022. The Alliance is aimed at amplifying Team Europe's efforts in climate action, resilience, and the sustainable use of natural resources, in line with the Global Gateway Strategy.
The EU's engagement and that of its Member States with missions in the region (France, Germany and Spain) are located in Fiji. Cooperation with the PICs is often rolled out through regional entities, also with the aim of reinforcing their capacities.
For the 2021-2027 period, the Pacific region (including Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste) has been allocated around €650 million, with at least €72 million for the Team Europe Initiative named “Green-Blue Alliance for the Pacific and Timor Leste”.
EU-PIC partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Green transition and climate resilience
The EU works at regional level with Pacific island countries on essential connectivity and sustainability issues, including climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure in the fields of water management, renewable energy, telecommunications and transport. Projects include notably:
- Electrification through renewable energy services with a focus on remote communities.
- Strengthening regional climate resilience through nature-based solutions.
- Advising in sustainable tourism, consumption and production.
- Retrofitting, upgrading and continuously maintaining public infrastructure across the Pacific.
- Implementing safe and sustainable waste management.
- Supporting improved infrastructure across key sectors like transportation and energy.
- Oceans
The EU and the Pacific region are cooperating to strengthen ocean governance and management. Specific actions include:
- Ensuring the sustainability of marine resources and ecosystems while developing coastal ‘blue’ economies.
- Supporting a review of National Ocean Policies of Pacific countries.
- Regional trade and connectivity
The EU is helping strengthen regional trade and economic integration between Pacific Island countries and territories. That includes developing banking systems and tapping the full potential of the (interim) EU-Pacific Economic Partnership (EPA). In this context, the EU engaged in promoting stronger economic and business ties with the organisation of the first-ever EU-Pacific Business Forum in Nadi, Fiji on 4-5 September 2025.
- Good governance and human rights
The EU is helping strengthen Pacific Island Countries’ budgetary practices and ability to deliver goods and services in an inclusive and sustainable way. It is also promoting gender equality, equal rights for LGBTQI+ persons and for those with disabilities, and working towards eradicating violence against women and girls.
- Specific to the Federated States of Micronesia
- Strengthening water and sanitation governance.
- Enabling the spread of reliable and eco-friendly energy services.
- Specific to Fiji
- Increasing the expenditure and investments in Fiji for climate mitigation and adaptation.
- Supporting the country’s renewable energy production needs in its zero-carbon pledge.
- Specific to Kiribati
- Constructing and operationalising a multi-purpose port on Kirimati Island.
- Increasing access to safe and reliable drinking water.
- Improving sanitation infrastructure.
- Providing budgetary support for better government services and goods.
- Specific to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Helping reform the energy sector, increasing its efficiency and the share of renewable energy.
- Addressing the country’s climate vulnerability with regards to water access.
- Specific to Samoa
Supporting access to sustainable, safe and affordable water, improved sanitation and hygiene services.
- Specific to the Solomon Islands
- Improving access to safe water and sanitation in urban and peri-urban areas.
- Providing budgetary support for increased access to affordable and reliable clean energy.
- Increasing the climate resilience of local communities by providing access to climate finance for local governments.
- Enhancing the accountability and effectiveness of electoral institutions and processes.
- Improving the public sector’s ability to deliver better service and reduce poverty, including at the provincial level.
- Providing support in Malaita province with reliable port infrastructure for tuna export and through the upgrading of a connecting bridge.
- Specific to Tonga
Improving governance of the energy sector with budgetary support.
- Specific to Vanuatu
- Making schools more climate-resilient and integrated into the national shelter network.
- Providing budgetary support for climate resilient agriculture and food systems.