Tuvalu has been a member of the Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) grouping since the 1970s.

Political dialogue

The EU's political dialogue with Tuvalu focuses on:

• protecting its vulnerable environment, especially in relation to climate change
• defending human rights and gender issues.

 

The EU and Tuvalu are discussing how to collaborate more closely in multilateral fora on these and other issues.

Aid and cooperation

The Country Strategy Paper for 2008-13 provides a budget of €6m from the 10^th  European Development Fund (EDF).

All EU cooperation activities with Tuvalu are in line with the country's environmental protection strategy.

The main focus areas for EU assistance and cooperation are:

• the water sector, specifically rainwater harvesting, environment protection rules and waste management
• climate change – financed through the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA), including:

 

• building resilience to climate change (with the University of South Pacific)
• promoting sustainable long-term adaptation strategies (with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community).

• Tuvalu is also participating in disaster risk reduction under the 10th EDF ACP-EU Natural Disaster Facility.