On 11th June, in Brussels, the European Commission released a memorandum (MEMO/12/435) on the eve of Andris Piebalgs', European Commissioner for Development, attendance at the EU Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand. Accompanying him will be Christian Friis Bach, Minister of Development Cooperation of Denmark who will be representing the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission Catherine Ashton."A wide range of issues affecting the region will be discussed, such as climate change, sustainable development, economic stability, growth and trade, and development cooperation. The positions ahead of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on sustainable development of 20-22 June will also constitute a part of the debate and focus on how the EU and the Pacific could reach a substantial outcome in Rio+20 especially around the adoption of concrete goals and targets supporting the transition to an inclusive green economy." (Ahead of Rio+20)

In 2005 the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) adopted the Pacific Plan for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration setting out the region’s goals on cooperation and integration from 2006 to 2015 in four areas: economic growth, sustainable development, governance and security. The following year, in response to this plan, the European Union adopted the "EU Strategy for a Strengthened Partnership with the Pacific" and subsequently in 2012 the New Commission Communication: "Towards a renewed EU-Pacific development Partnership" came into being.

"The Commission uses a combination of policies and financial resources to put the strategy into effect:

•Increased development assistance to Pacific Countries and the region.

•Enhanced EU-PIF political dialogue, through participation in the Annual Forum Meetings and Ministerial Troika Meetings. The dialogue covers matters of common interest, ranging from regional security and governance to economic stability and growth, international trade, environment, climate change and development cooperation.

•Trilateral Pacific dialogue with Australia and New Zealand at Heads of Mission level, covering: country situations, peace and security in the region, Cairns Compact, climate change, Aid for Trade, energy, budget support and delegated arrangements." (MEMO/12/435)

The total amount of Development Assistance allocated to the Pacific by the EU from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) (2008-2013) is €750 million, an increase on that received under the 9th EDF, of which €677 million is earmarked for Pacific- African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and €73 million for Pacific - Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

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