Fiji to Strengthen Relations with the European Union

The Fijian Embassy in Brussels is looking forward for greater collaboration with the Europe-based institutions to broaden opportunities for mutual interest and benefit. Fiji’s current relations with the European Union (EU) is expected to further grow in a number of sectors notably trade, sustainable development and international cooperation.

This growth will be bolstered by the successor agreement to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, negotiations, which is currently well underway between the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the EU. Signed in 2000, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement has been the main framework for cooperation and relations between the ACP and the EU.

The Agreement covers three key pillars of cooperation: Economic and Trade Cooperation, Development Finance Cooperation and the Political Dimension. Fiji’s own relations with the EU are founded on this agreement. As a founding member of the ACP and through its Embassy in Brussels, Fiji has been actively part of the negotiation process for the new agreement.

As an equal priority, Fiji’s Ambassador to Brussels, His Excellency Mr Deo Saran and his team will continue to promote Fiji’s domestic and international priorities at the international stage, particularly in advancing Fiji’s interests in sustainable development and climate change.

“Our Embassy is unique in the sense that we are accredited to eleven countries and fourteen international organisations in continental Europe. It represents Fiji’s commitment to development of the Fijian people and international cooperation”, Ambassador Saran said.

Speaking of Fiji’s unique relationship with the EU, Ambassador Saran highlighted that as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Fiji continues to intensify efforts to maintain and strengthen interests.

“Each year, Fiji and the EU holds Political Dialogue to strengthen cooperation and governance on all aspects of our relations. The most recent Political Dialogue was held last year in Fiji and this year we expect the dialogue to be held in Brussels. For both sides, the dialogue provides an opportunity to grow our existing relations and to identify new areas to deepen multilateral relations. One of the growing areas where we share common interests is in environment protection, climate change, and oceans conservation.”

Ambassador Saran praised the EU for their own commitment to contribution to both mitigation efforts and adaption measures in these areas. He added that Fiji’s own commitment to these areas has not gone unnoticed by the international communities.

Ambassador Saran’s remarks follow Fiji’s historic Presidency of COP23, in which he was the Presidency’s Climate Envoy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and COP 23 Climate Ambassador.

In this position, he presented the Presidency’s vision and called on the parties to commit to climate action and in particular, to keep global temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.

“Our strong presidency at COP23 led by the Honourable Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has certainly shaped international perception on the contribution that a small country like ours can bring to the international table. It’s also portraying an image that we want to participate directly in any global agenda that affects all of us in the South Pacific and our generations to come”.

Ambassador Saran says that for Fiji, having made its mark in championing climate change has enhanced Fiji’s potential to explore greater levels of bilateral engagements with Europe.

“The Mission in Brussels is committed to further strengthen collaborations to raise Fiji’s profile among the European countries. There is great potential to yield gains in tourism, investments, sports, education, sports and cultural exchanges.

“The Embassy is also engaging with the European countries, and one of the strategies we have undertaken to increase Fiji’s visibility, is the appointment of Honorary Counsels to work closely with the Embassy to serve Fiji’s interests their respective countries. In addition, we engage with these countries through their own ministries and stakeholders in the specific areas where we see opportunities for cooperation in socioeconomic areas,” Ambassador Saran elaborated.

“Netherlands for example is quite strong on hydrology while Germany is off course is very strong on international cooperation and economic diplomacy so the Embassy engages with them in these respective areas. We collaborate with France through sports, while Portugal and other countries through education and student exchange programs. We are engaging with Monaco to diversify our tourism and super yacht industry and investment opportunities,” Ambassador Saran explained.

He said that each of these European countries have their own strengths, specificities and opportunities, as such the Fiji Embassy in Brussels works accordingly with a targeted approach to enhance Fiji’s diplomatic relations with these countries.

Progressive measures are also being taken by the Embassy to ease the processing of Schengen visas to Europe, and in doing so, saving Fijians time and costs currently associated whilst applying for the Schengen Visa to travel to Europe. Ambassador Saran said that while Fiji is holding talks with the EU on this new arrangement, he added that a successful outcome of current talks would largely depend on individual approval by EU member states.

Speaking of the significant achievements of the Embassy, Ambassador Saran said that they have progressively strengthened its bilateral relationships with the 11 countries of cross accreditation in recent years. In reflecting on Fiji’s presence in the EU, Ambassador Saran said that Fiji-EU relations have come a long way since the Embassy’s establishment in 1973. And through the Fijian Embassy in Brussels, Ambassador Saran believes that Fiji is well positioned to deepen both its multilateral and bilateral relations for the benefit of all Fijians.