Press Release: Memo: Pacific Islands – EU relations

From 3 – 6 August 2010, Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, hosts the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Founded in 1971, it is the region's major political and economic policy institution with a mission to strengthen regional cooperation and integration. The PIF comprises of 16 member states – fourteen Pacific Island countries plus Australia and New Zealand. The Forum Leaders meet annually and give political guidance to the region.

The 41st Annual Forum meeting is structured in a series of five meetings: Smaller Island States Leaders meeting, Pacific - ACP leaders meeting, Pacific Islands Forum Formal Session, Forum Leaders Retreat and Post-Forum Dialogue Partners Meeting. The European Commission is in a privileged position and is the only partner invited to deliver a speech at the Pacific - ACP leaders' meeting.

The Commission will continue discussions with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on a possible Memorandum of Understanding for a Joint Pacific-EU initiative on climate change. The objective is to facilitate implementation of the Joint Declaration adopted in November 2008 and also to attract international climate change funding to the Pacific.