5th Papua New Guinea – European Union High-Level Political Dialogue
The fifth High-Level Political Dialogue between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the European Union (EU) was held on 27 February 2023 in Port Moresby. Discussions covered political, economic and social developments, as well as the aspects of bilateral cooperation with a focus on shared priorities, such as peace and security in our regions, democracy, good governance and human rights, environment and climate change, supporting the multilateralism and rule-based order, trade and investment aspects, energy security and development partnership agenda.
The EU and PNG representatives highlighted the importance of their partnership for stability and development in the Pacific Region and beyond, including through cooperation in support of the multilateral and rules-based international order. The EU expressed the importance of relations with PNG, including in the context of the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Picture: Delegation for both sides during the dialogue, Waigani, Port Moresby, 27 February 2023 PC: N. Kuamugl PDC DFA
PNG and the EU highlighted alignment of their priorities and explored areas to advance further their engagement, including on climate action, ocean governance, and security. The EU presented its Global Gateway which is a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connectivity in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world, including in the South Pacific and in PNG.
PNG and the EU reiterated their shared positions at multilateral level as regards Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The EU welcomed the PNG Government’s efforts to find a fair and sustainable negotiated solution on the future political status of Bougainville and to improve the security situation in the Highlands.
The EU further welcomed the efforts of the PNG Government to address the country’s social and economic challenges and its focus on inclusive growth through economic diversification. PNG representatives confirmed the commitment to address gender-based violence, enhance rule of law, foster children rights and continue to work towards finalizing the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission.
The EU and PNG representatives stressed their commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement and to stepping up global action to tackle climate change in the lead up to COP 28 in November-December 2023. They agreed that for the global efforts to succeed, a low-carbon, climate-resilient development must be based on clean and secure energy. They also stressed the importance of a good cooperation on International Ocean Governance in order to achieve ocean sustainability and fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The EU and Papua New Guinea reiterated their commitment to strengthen trade relations in the context of the existing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Investment and energy security issues were also discussed.
A specific session was dedicated to the EU-PNG partnership for development, and the EU programmes for PNG for the next seven years. Apart from the continuation of Good Governance, Human Rights and WasH programmes, a new “Forestry-Climate Change and Biodiversity” programme is ready to be launched soon, in partnership with EU Member States (such as France), as “Team Europe”. This “Team Europe” approach will become a regular feature of EU programmes in order to pull more resources and increase efficiencies. The EU also aims to attract private capital and investments in support of the Sustainable Development goals, and presented its toolbox in this respect (European Fund for Sustainable Development +).
The High-Level Political Dialogue was co-chaired for PNG by the Acting Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kapi Maro, and for the EU by the EU External Action Service Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Paola Pampaloni, with the presence of the Deputy Director General within the European Commission, Directorate for International Partnerships, Ms. Myriam Ferran, of the EU Ambassador to PNG, Mr. Jacques Fradin and, as observer, the French Ambassador to PNG, Mr. Guillaume Lemoine.
