Combating climate change, sustainable development and future cooperation between Pacific small island states and the EU after 2020 are the topics on the agenda of the mission of the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, in the Pacific - a region of the ACP Group, linked to the EU by the Cotonou Agreement, but also by a bilateral strategic partnership agreement since 2006.
In Nauru on Monday, he met with President Baron Waqa and Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor, to discuss the priorities of Pacific ACP countries before Tuesday's consultations in Samoa on the 'Pacific' pillar of the Agreement that will succeed the Cotonou Agreement in 2020.
In Palau on Sunday, the Commissioner met with Minister Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg and signed a 1.6 million euros financing agreement to support the country's energy efficiency and thus "reduce dependence on fossil fuels", Mimica said.
His visit began on the same day in Samoa with talks with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, whose country recently joined the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Pacific States.
Addressing vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, good governance, human rights, sustainable and inclusive growth should guide the post-2020 EU/Pacific partnership. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)