A Post-Cotonou agreement workshop led by NGOs and Civil Societies from the region together with the European Union was held in Suva yesterday.
The workshop reflects on the future relations of the Asian Caribbean Pacific and EU member countries in terms of trade and progress.
The EU head of co-operation, Christoph Wagner says they have a global responsibility and want to maintain a good relation towards its member countries.
“For the EU we want to been as a multilateral partner. So we are not somebody who is saying, inward looking, we don’t want to have bilateral- only selected countries. We see that we have a global responsibility and global interests.”
Meanwhile, Pacific Network on Globalization Coordinator Maureen Penjuelli says it’s important that Pacific Island countries are aware and heavily involved in treaty discussions.
“We all know and I know everyone can equally recognize that the Pacific has become a contested space by these global powers. This treaty will determine some of those parameters of how we engage with the EU. We have significant concerns that the EU’s agenda remains to progress their very aggressive trade agenda in the region.”
The Post Cotonou workshop also highlighted the importance of NGOs and Civil society’s participation in matters regarding the Pacific affairs.
