European Union Ambassador to Fiji Barbara Plinkert has highlighted the growing partnership between Europe and Fiji, calling for stronger unity, cooperation and commitment to international law amid rising global instability.
Speaking during the Europe Day celebrations at Novotel in Suva yesterday evening, Plinkert says the relationship between the European Union, Fiji and the wider Pacific region had deepened significantly through collaboration on climate action, trade, ocean governance and regional development.
Plinkert says Europe Day commemorates the historic Schuman Declaration made 76 years ago by former French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, which laid the foundation for what would later become the European Union.
She describes the declaration as a turning point that transformed Europe from a continent marked by conflict into one built on peace, unity and cooperation.
However, Plinkert warns that the values of freedom, democracy and equality were increasingly under threat worldwide due to geopolitical tensions, conflict and economic coercion.
She says wars and instability, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, had reinforced the importance of countries standing together to uphold peace, stability and international law.
She also acknowledged the Pacific’s continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in international forums, saying the solidarity shown by Pacific Island nations had strengthened global efforts to defend the principles of the United Nations Charter.
She further praised cooperation between the European Union and Pacific nations on climate and ocean protection, particularly the coming into force of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty.
According to Ambassador Plinkert, the treaty represents a major step towards protecting marine ecosystems and addressing the impacts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
She also highlighted growing economic and trade ties between the European Union and the Pacific, referencing last year’s inaugural European Union-Pacific Business Forum held in Fiji, which brought together more than 300 government and business representatives from both regions.
Plinkert says the partnership between Europe and the Pacific was reflected through renewable energy projects, digital connectivity initiatives, resilient infrastructure development and marine conservation programmes across the region.
She adds that the cooperation was aligned with the priorities of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and focused on practical initiatives supporting Pacific communities.
The Ambassador also thanked the Fijian Government, regional partners, diplomatic missions, sponsors and organisers for contributing to the success of the Europe Day celebrations.
She concluded by encouraging continued partnership and multilateral
cooperation, saying Europe and the Pacific must continue choosing “cooperation over division, partnership over isolation and multilateralism over unilateralism.”
