The European Unions Ambassador for the Pacific, Andrew Jacobs today opened the 16th Attorney Generals conference at Natadola. Ambassador Jacobs said that the EU was looking forward to closer relations with Fiji after the successful completion of elections and the formation of government in September. On 21 November, the European Union Member States agreed to discontinue the restrictions on development co-operation that were put in place in 2007. We are at an advanced stage of planning with the Fiji Government and in consultation with other stakeholders where and how to focus Fijis allocation from the European Development Fund, Ambassador Jacobs said. Its likely that our partnership will centre around sustainable rural livelihoods (in particular in relation to the sugar industry, with which we have maintained a close partnership over the last few years) and governance, targeting in particular, access to justice. Our governance support will build on the capacity building work we have done in recent months with the Fiji Elections Office and with the Parliament. As we re-start comprehensive development co-operation, we look forward also to establishing close and effective political dialogue with the Fiji Government. The European Union welcomes wholeheartedly the rejuvenation and intensification of our relations with Fiji, he said. Ambassador Jacobs also highlighted regional integration and the EUs comitments in the area of climate action, particularly as regards emission reduction, which he said was a a very topical issue with COP 20 currently underway in Lima, Peru and the upcoming COP21 conference in Paris next year.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 03:39:55 +0000
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