SG Pacific ACP NAO-RAO
SG Pacific ACP NAO-RAO 24Mar06
28 Mar 2006 18:11:41
SPEECH BY GREG URWIN,
SECRETARY GENERAL, FORUM SECRETARIAT
AT THE
PACIFIC ACP NAO/RAO MEETING
Forum Secretariat, Suva
9:00am 24 March 2006
Honourable Ministers, National Authorising Officers, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the Forum Secretariat. The European Union is an important donor having generously provided in excess of EURO 2 billion in grant aid and trade concessions to Pacific Island Countries since 1975. There are now 15 members of the Pacific ACP group all 14 Forum Island Countries, plus Timor Leste, which joined in 2003.
2. This morning's meeting will focus on three main issues. First we shall take stock of where we are in terms of the Pacific Regional Indicative Programme the PRIP. In this regard you will recall the European Commission's announcement to Pacific Leaders last October that the 9th EDF/PRIP would receive an additional EUR 10 million because of its good performance. This is very welcome news as the extra funding will allow the region to continue important development work in Fisheries and Agricultural Trade. Some of these additional funds will also go towards funding the regions' roadmap towards an 'Economic Partnership Agreement' (EPA) with the EU.
3. The EPA is the second point of this morning's meeting, and here we shall discuss, in general terms, the progress made toward concluding an agreement. Although not all of you are directly involved in the EPA process, there are EPA issues which may have a bearing on future EDF country and regional allocations. It is for this reason the EPA is included in our agenda.
4. Finally, our meeting provides us the opportunity to review and consider some of the issues to be discussed at Monday's seminar with the European Commission. In this regard the Head of Delegation for the European Commission, Dr Ridolfi, who will join us later, will elaborate on the key issues to be discussed.
5. Honourable Ministers, colleagues, I am conscious of the limited time we have available this morning, so with these few words I thank you for your attendance and wish you well in your deliberations.
28 Mar 2006 18:11:41
SPEECH BY GREG URWIN,
SECRETARY GENERAL, FORUM SECRETARIAT
AT THE
PACIFIC ACP NAO/RAO MEETING
Forum Secretariat, Suva
9:00am 24 March 2006
Honourable Ministers, National Authorising Officers, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the Forum Secretariat. The European Union is an important donor having generously provided in excess of EURO 2 billion in grant aid and trade concessions to Pacific Island Countries since 1975. There are now 15 members of the Pacific ACP group all 14 Forum Island Countries, plus Timor Leste, which joined in 2003.
2. This morning's meeting will focus on three main issues. First we shall take stock of where we are in terms of the Pacific Regional Indicative Programme the PRIP. In this regard you will recall the European Commission's announcement to Pacific Leaders last October that the 9th EDF/PRIP would receive an additional EUR 10 million because of its good performance. This is very welcome news as the extra funding will allow the region to continue important development work in Fisheries and Agricultural Trade. Some of these additional funds will also go towards funding the regions' roadmap towards an 'Economic Partnership Agreement' (EPA) with the EU.
3. The EPA is the second point of this morning's meeting, and here we shall discuss, in general terms, the progress made toward concluding an agreement. Although not all of you are directly involved in the EPA process, there are EPA issues which may have a bearing on future EDF country and regional allocations. It is for this reason the EPA is included in our agenda.
4. Finally, our meeting provides us the opportunity to review and consider some of the issues to be discussed at Monday's seminar with the European Commission. In this regard the Head of Delegation for the European Commission, Dr Ridolfi, who will join us later, will elaborate on the key issues to be discussed.
5. Honourable Ministers, colleagues, I am conscious of the limited time we have available this morning, so with these few words I thank you for your attendance and wish you well in your deliberations.
