Govt urges EU to reassess stance on sugar funding

The Fiji government has urged the European Union to reconsider its stance on withholding sugar funding for Fiji.

The Ministry of Information confirmed that Fiji's Ambassador to the EU Peceli Vocea made the call at the hearing of European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, on the Pacific Interim.

Vocea stated that Fiji urges the European Parliament to review its policy on withholding sugar funds from Fiji, if the desired objectives of this interim agreement are to be realized, and as the situation and political landscape in Fiji have changed, along with the responsibility of the European Parliament, since the inception of the Lisbon Treaty.

He also called on the committee to highlight the resolutions by European Governments and stated that they would also like to underscore the resolutions by the august European Parliament in March 2009, which inter alia called on the commission to offer maximum flexibility in the continued EPA negotiations.

Vocea urged the European Parliament to continue to focus on the Pacific region=s comprehensive EPA negotiations with a clear understanding on the development aspect of the EPA that should be of high importance to our Region.

He said such a stance would only bring more problems than good to the small Pacific Islands.

Vocea stated that a development chapter that does not recognize the realities in the Pacific ACP States will only result in “net development deficits rather than gains to us” Mr Vocea said.

He also made note that Pacific Island countries look forward to further discussions with the committee as the comprehensive EPA negotiations continue.

He also urged the European Parliament to support Fiji and PNG's request that will be forthcoming through the institutions of the I-EPA, and would express the hope that these institutions will provide easy to use consultative mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.

He also thanked the committee for giving the opportunity to Fiji for the support that has been receiving from EU and for the opportunity to make submissions.


Story by: Roneel Lal