Press Release: Commissioner Piebalgs calls for a stronger partnership with Small Islands Developing States

The European Commission announced on the 29 August 2014 that the European Union Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, would represent the EU at the UN Third International Conference on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), organised in Samoa from 1 to 4 September.

The event takes place every 10 years and is meant to highlight the significant challenges that these small islands face.

Due to their small size, the lack of domestic markets and economies of scale, the SIDS face geographic isolation and have limited institutional capacities. They are all greatly affected by climate change and confronted with rising sea levels, great dependence on highly costly imported fossil fuels, and face frequent natural and man-made disasters.

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on EU common position for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (Apia, Samoa, 1-4 September 2014) http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-eu-common-position-for-the-third-international-conference-on-small-island-developing-states-sids-apia-samoa-1-4-september-2014/

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/573: Speech by Commissioner Piebalgs at the Opening Plenary Session of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-573_en.pdf

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