EU In Pacific Gathering
- July 27th, 2009
- Posted by EUEditor
The European Union has announced it will take part in the Pacific Islands Forum to be held at Cairns next month (4-7.8.09).
It said it would send a large delegation to a post forum dialogue, headed by the European Commission’s Director General for Development, Stefano Manservisi, with other senior officials including the Head of Delegation to Australia and New Zealand, Ambassador David Daly, and a representative of the European Investment Bank.
The South Pacific Forum is the main gathering point for regional leaders and often used for working out joint policies ranging from political conflicts like the military take-over in Fiji, to development and trade assistance – with the EU often opting to “move in step†with forum decisions, (see EUAustralia 27.1.09, “What to do about Fiji coup leader”).
Europe is a very large aid donor in Pacific countries.
Reference: EC Delegation to Australia, 17.7.09, [email protected]Â
Picture: Cairns North Queensland, apeprs.org