Discussions of the Pacific African Carribbean Pacific (ACP) Officials addressed: progress of the Pacific region's negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU; the progress report on the implementation of the Pacific Island Countries' Trade Agreement (PICTA); the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations; the Pacific Trade and Development Facility; and the Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy, among others.
27 July 2012: The inaugural Pacific African Carribbean Pacific (ACP) Officials’ Meeting addressed economic, trade and regional integration. The meeting took place ahead of the Pacific ACP Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled for 28 August 2012.
Held on 27 July 2012, in Suva, Fiji, discussions focused on, inter alia: Pacific Regional Indicative Programme under the European Development Fund (EDF); progress of the Pacific region’s negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU; the progress report on the implementation of the Pacific Island Countries’ Trade Agreement (PICTA); the conclusion of the PICTA trade in services negotiations; the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations; the Pacific Trade and Development Facility; the Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy; and strengthening the Pacific’s relationship with the EU and the ACP group.
Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), which hosted the meeting, said: “Under the EU-ACP framework, Pacific ACP States have benefited from a number of substantial financial programmes and technical assistance provided through the European Commission (EC) and the EU Member States.” [PIFS Press Release] [Schedule of Meetings related to 43rd Pacific Islands Forum]