PM Speaks On EU Negotiations

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase today urged the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) group to get their thinking right on the upcoming negotiations with their partners in the European Union for Economic Partnership Agreements, and guard against any moves to erode their position and purpose through the introduction of arrangements, which fragment the ACP.

“We must make sure that no current assistance is diluted and that, on the contrary, the new agreements act as a platform for fresh support in aid, trade, investment and general co-operation.”

Mr. Qarase said that by any measure, the EU-ACP association is remarkably successful.

“It is one of the most effective international aid and trade groupings ever established. “

He paid tribute to all the nations and institutions - from both sides of the North-South divide - which have done so much to make it work.

“There can be no question that it has made a difference for the better in the lives of millions of our citizens. It certainly has in the Pacific.”

In Fiji, Mr. Qarase said aid flowing from the EU-ACP partnerships has been of wide assistance to us particularly in the sugar industry.

“Our sugar industry in Fiji is presently going through a period of stress and decline. But we are determined to advance this year on long-overdue restructure and reform.

“Extension of favourable access to the European market for Fiji's sugar exports is absolutely critical in our plans for maintaining and building our economy.”

Mr. Qarase said about 200,000 people are dependent on this industry both directly and indirectly, and given its special nature in that the majority of cane farms are by Indian tenants on Fijian-owned land, its continuing viability is vitally important both for multi-racial harmony and political stability in Fiji.

“We contrast Australia's attitude to ACP preferential trade benefits with that of the US.

“As a major exporter of sugar, Australia could have protested, if it wished, to the World Trade Organisation about the preferential sugar access to the EU for the ACP.

“But it has not done so because, as an affluent State, it understands and is sympathetic to the development needs of the ACP Group,” Mr. Qarase said.

“We thank Australia and our other neighbour, New Zealand, for their readiness, through their SPARTECA trade agreement with us, to provide the same kind of non-reciprocal trade access we are receiving from the European Union.”