Forum Principles on Regional Transport Services
At the August 2004 Forum Leaders Meeting, held in Apia, Samoa, Leaders endorsed the Forum Principles on Regional Transport Services (FPRTS) in recognition that: * The provision and maintenance of regular, reliable and competitive air and shipping services is crucial to Forum Island Countries;
The FPRTS containing some six principles promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability, aims to serve as a guideline to Forum island countries (FIC), in their pursuit for greater service delivery to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of both air and shipping services. The FPRTS uses as its basis, the serious challenges faced by FIC transport sectors, as highlighted in the Pacific Regional Transport Study (PRTS) Report. The Australian Government funded this study in 2003, after Leaders at their 2003 Meeting acknowledged and agreed: "54..... that the serious challenges, both old and new, facing the countries of the region warranted serious and careful examination of the pooling of scarce regional resources to strengthen national capabilities. Ideas and proposals being put forward by the Leaders (aviation and shipping scoping studies, police training initiative, renewable energy and waste management) should be pursued with urgency and with the goal of producing practical outcomes as soon as possible..... "56. On the aviation scoping study proposal, the Leaders agreed that this should go ahead, but look beyond the concept of a regional airline to cover the regional aviation system including aviation safety, pricing and service efficiency for all members. The Government of Australia would fund the study." "57. At the request of the Leaders, and reflecting the ongoing concerns of the Pacific Island Countries over the difficulties faced with shipping in the region, the Government of Australia also agreed to fund a scoping study on shipping." |
Forum Principles on Regional Transport Services