Introduction

The Pacific region comprises 15 States from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and four Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The region has a combined land area of 580,000 km2 and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of approximately 30 million km2 for a total population of about 12 million people that includes over 500,000 EU citizens.

The EU has strategic interests in the Pacific. Together, the EU and the 15 Pacific States from the ACP Group form a strong coalition to tackle climate change and other global issues, including ocean governance. The Pacific also presents economic and trade opportunities for the EU, notably in relation to fisheries and minerals. Closer ties with the Pacific countries will also strengthen the EU's cooperation with Australia and New Zealand in the region.

The Pacific region represents an opportunity to use, in a coordinated and comprehensive way, a range of different components of EU external action, including the Common Foreign and Security Policy, EU development policy, and economic diplomacy. With very few EU Member States having representations in the Pacific countries, establishing closer ties with the Pacific Community (hereinafter SPC), formerly called the South Pacific Commission, would also be a way to reinforce the EU's cooperation with the Pacific countries.

The EU implements part of its regional and bilateral programmes through regional organisations in the Pacific. SPC is the main implementing organisation for EU programmes in the Pacific. On 11 February 2016, SPC invited the EU by means of a letter to the Head of the EU Delegation to the Pacific in Fiji, to become a permanent observer. This represents an opportunity to enhance the EU-SPC partnership and to reinforce the EU's policy dialogue with SPC on regional matters.

The Pacific Community (SPC)

The SPC was established under the Canberra Agreement in 1947. It is the main regional implementing organisation and plays an active role for inclusive regional development, cooperation and integration in the Pacific. It currently counts 26 members: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

Aiming to foster closer and more substantive engagement with entities that do not wish to hold or do not qualify for membership status with the Pacific Community, SPC adopted, in November 2015, during its 9th Conference, a new [document SPC/CRGA 45 (15)], establishing the category of 'permanent observers to the Pacific Community'.

Acknowledging the importance of coordinated approaches to development policy and programming, the European Commission and SPC have enhanced their collaboration by signing an to establish a partnership on 16 June 2015. In this context, the Commission was informally invited as an observer in SPC's annual governance meetings. Following the adoption of the new Policy on Membership and Observer Status of the Pacific Community, SPC the European Union to become the first permanent observer to the Pacific Community on 11 February 2016.

The Permanent Observer status of the Pacific Community

The permanent observer status is intended to engage entities within or outside of the Pacific region that have the will and capacity for substantive engagement with the Pacific Community but that do not want, or do not qualify for, membership status.

As stated in the Policy on Membership and Observer Status of the Pacific Community ('the Policy'), permanent observers may expect to receive the following treatment:

1.Permanent observers may attend the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CGRA) and Conference and other SPC meetings. With the authorisation of the chairperson, they may participate in discussions and debates.

2.Permanent observers may present proposals at SPC meetings. Such proposals would only be submitted for decision to the members of the Pacific Community at the request of at least one member of the Pacific Community.

3.The chairperson of the meeting may decide, when appropriate, to allow a permanent observer additional speaking time to reply in relation to positions or proposals upon which it has presented.

4.Permanent observers may, at the discretion of the members of the Pacific Community and the SPC secretariat, be invited to participate in working groups established by the governing body or the secretariat, subject to normal procedures governing the composition of such working groups.

5.The SPC secretariat expects to notify all permanent observers of workshops, seminars and other ad hoc meetings of members convened by the Pacific Community and its secretariat and to extend invitations to permanent observers in connection with such events.

Granting of permanent observer status is subject to the following procedure, which is described in detail in the Policy:

1.Submission of a written request to the Conference of the Pacific Community, addressed to the Director-General of the Secretariat, concisely setting out the claims of the applicant against the criteria for permanent observer status.