Honiara- Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday emphasised that the Pacific must carefully consider what role it can play in strengthening the wider Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.(OACPS), while ensuring that its own priorities are not diluted within its broader structures.
He stated that the shortcomings of the OACPS Secretariat serve as a reminder that institutional arrangements must be resilient, transparent, and future-oriented.
Prime Minister Rabuka made these remarks at the Pacific Leaders meeting titled: Samoa’s Agreement’s Pacific Regional Protocol Vis-A-Vis: The Review of the Regional Architecture Set Up of Institutional Mechanisms.
The meeting was aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the Samoa Agreement, as well as the 2050 Strategy.
“The European Union has been, and continues to be, a foundational partner for the Pacific. From Lomé to Cotonou, and now through the Samoa Agreement, this partnership has supported our region’s development and resilience”, he shared.
“The Samoa Agreement, which aligns closely with our 2050 Strategy, holds significant promise in advancing our collective priorities – particularly in climate action, sustainable development, and economic opportunity.
“As members of the OACPS, we value our place within the wider family of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States.”
As we work to establish mechanisms to operationalise the Pacific Regional Protocol, Prime Minister Rabuka asserted that these must be fit for purpose – streamlined, inclusive, and able to respond to the changing dynamics of our relationship with the European Union.
Fiji is progressing through its domestic processes to ratify the Samoa Agreement, including consultations with the relevant agencies to ensure full national ownership.
“Looking ahead, securing adequate and predictable resourcing from the European Union will be critical, not only for fulfilling our obligations, but to ensure that all Pacific ACP States, particularly our smaller and more vulnerable members, are fully supported,” the Prime Minister added.
Fiji stands firmly in support of collective Pacific action to operationalise the Samoa Agreement in a way that safeguards our priorities, strengthens our collective voice, and positions our region for a resilient and prosperous future.
The Samoa Agreement, signed in November 2023, is the new partnership framework between the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), focusing on sustainable development, climate action, human rights, peace, and economic growth for the next 20 years.
