Fiji and Australia continue to advance the Vuvale partnership
22/02/2025
Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Raijeli Taga receives courtesy call from the Chinese Ambassador to Fiji
22/02/2025Published On: 22/02/2025
The European Union (EU) has conveyed its strong commitment to deepen cooperation with Fiji, through provision of funding and technical support in key areas of development such as climate change and disaster risk reduction, economic resilience, trade and investment, human rights, democracy and good governance.
This was discussed earlier this week at an introductory call received by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Raijeli Taga, from the Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific, H.E Barbara Plinkert.
In welcoming the delegation, Dr. Taga thanked the EU for its ongoing cooperation with Fiji, and extended appreciation for the continued support provided by the Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific. Dr. Taga reassured the delegation of Fiji’s continued commitment to work closely with the EU in strengthening engagements in issues of mutual priorities. She acknowledged the comprehensive action plans focused on expanding bilateral and multilateral engagements between Fiji and the EU.
Further, Dr. Taga said that Fiji looks forward for the next Partnership Dialogue with EU, anticipated to be convened later this year. This will be an avenue for Fiji and EU to take stock of the bilateral relations and further elevate engagement at regional and international status.
Ambassador Plinkert in her remarks, congratulated Dr. Taga for her new appointment and reaffirmed EU’s commitment to advance collaborations with Fiji. She highlighted the existing areas of cooperation and plans ahead, aimed at progressing EU and Fiji partnership to new levels.
Further, Ambassador Plinkert said that as a dialogue partner, EU looks forward to participating in the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders (PIFLM) meeting this September in Solomon Islands. The EU is planning to hold an EU-Pacific Business Forum back to back with PIFLM.
The meeting held at Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters was an opportunity for the EU, together with resident EU Member States (France, Spain, Germany) to discuss the upcoming the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), which will take place in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025.
Additionally, EU reaffirmed support to Fiji in its fight against climate change through the new funding, in the form of budget support programme, which is one of the central pillars of the continued partnership between the EU and Fiji. The EU supports Fiji’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) by providing the capacity building support to the TRC and its secretariat. This cooperation reflects Fiji and EU’s shared objectives in pursuit of human rights, democracy, peace and security.
Fiji also benefits from the second phase of the regional programme ‘Pacific Partnership to End Violence against Women and Girls – Phase II’ for which the EU allocated EUR 8 million (programme started in January 2024). It is implemented by UN Women in collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC).
EU further looks forward to supporting the Hydropower development in Viti Levu, Fiji – Vatutokotoko and Qaliwana reservoirs project. Additionally, Fiji will also be beneficiary of the Pacific Trade and Sustainable Development Programme (Pac-TSD), which aims to enhance EU-Pacific economic partnership and raise the region’s capacities to leverage international trade in order to foster Pacific-tailored sustainable development.
