Pacific Islands Countries

The 13 Pacific Islands Countries or 'PICs' (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.) cover an ocean area the size of Africa, despite their surface area being only the size of Lithuania and having only 2.6 million inhabitants. Together, the PICs and the EU champion the fight against the impact of climate change.

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, aimed at amplifying Team Europe's efforts in climate action, resilience, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Considering the extensive geographical spread of the PICs, the EU's engagement and that of its Member States with missions in the region (Germany, Spain, France) are primarily focused in Fiji. Cooperation with the PICs frequently occurs through regional entities.

Distinctly, the region does not follow the traditional approach of having Multiannual Indicative Programmes (MIPs) for each PIC. Instead, it utilizes a singular multi-country MIP that supports eligible actions across the PICs. For the 2021-2024 period, this multi-country MIP has been allocated EUR 90.6 million, with EUR 72.1 million designated specifically for initiatives related to the Green-Blue Alliance TEI. A notable aspect of this programming model is its inclusivity; while some PICs like the Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue, and Palau are considered high-income countries and therefore not eligible for bilateral funding, they can still benefit from the regional MIP. Of the EUR 43.5 million allocated for the regional MIP, EUR 32.5 million are dedicated to supporting the TEI.

Team Europe focusses its action on several key sectors in the PICs:

• Energy sector in Fiji: Fiji is set to benefit from an EFSD+ guarantee and an EIB loan, which will cover half the total cost for the development of a hydropower plant as part of the Global Gateway Initiative. The total investment volume along with the specific EU/EIB support will be finalized in 2024.

• Energy sector in Tonga: Tonga has been receiving assistance aimed at enhancing the enabling environment and governance of its energy sector to ensure sustainable access to modern, reliable, safe, efficient, and affordable energy services.

• Climate action and resilience: the EU is actively supporting:

  • The Solomon Islands in improving local communities' access to climate finance;
  • Fiji in the implementation of a Climate Change Act to enhance climate action efforts;
  • The Marshall Islands in adapting to increased drought frequency.
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector:
  • In the Federated States of Micronesia, the EU is working towards universal access to safe drinking water through strengthened national WASH governance.
  • Samoa is being assisted in developing a more integrated and strategic WASH policy to enhance the sector's economic sustainability and institutionalise monitoring and evaluation activities.

• Logistics sector in Kiribati: The EU is supporting Kiribati in the development of a multi-purpose port on Kiritimati Island by funding a feasibility study and a detailed engineering design plan.

• Agricultural sector in Tuvalu: The EU's support is focused on enhancing Tuvalu’s coconut production through a coconut rehabilitation plan that incorporates an agroforestry approach for replanting coconut trees.

• Vanuatu Value Chains (VaVaC) Programme: This ongoing programme is expected to be succeeded by actions aimed at promoting climate-resilient rural development, thereby creating opportunities for rural communities.

EU Delegation to Suva