The Republic of Fiji is a Melanesian Pacific island nation. The relationship between the European Union and Fiji is governed by the Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (the Samoa Agreement). Fiji and the EU work together on a number of common values, interests and challenges, such as climate change, oceans and human rights, which they address both in bilateral Political Dialogues and at various ACP-EU policy dialogues, as well as at global multilateral level.

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    The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert

    The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert with the President of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency, Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere at the State House during the presentation of credentials ceremony in September 2023.

    Copyright: The Fijian Government

Political Relations

Political relations between the European Union and the Republic of Fiji

Fiji consists of an archipelago of two main islands and 330 smaller islands — of which about 110 are permanently inhabited — and a population of over 900,000.

Fiji participates in comprehensive policy dialogues within the ACP-EU institutions from senior officials to parliamentary and ministerial levels.

The EU and Fiji hold High-Level Political Dialogues to address common interests and challenges, such as climate change, oceans, human rights, development cooperation, as well as economic and trade cooperation. In April 2024, Fiji and the EU held in Suva their first Partnership Dialogue under Art. 3 of the Samoa Agreement.

Fiji and the EU are engaged in the Pacific region through the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and  Pacific Community (SPC). The Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) coordinates the ACP-EU policy dialogues.

Trade and Economic Relations

Trade and Economic Relations Between the EU and Fiji

Fiji is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), categorised as Upper Middle-Income Country. Its economic base comprises tourism, fisheries, agriculture (mainly sugar) and remittances.

Tourism accounts for around 35% of GDP and employs approximately 150,000 people directly and indirectly. Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil, and hydropower. Agriculture contributes ca. 10.75% of GDP (2018, WB) and employs 60% of Fiji's workforce.

In 2014, Fiji started the application of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Pacific which it had signed in 2009. T

Fiji, classified as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) and an Upper Middle-Income Country, has a diverse economic base primarily driven by tourism, which contributes approximately 40% to its GDP. This sector not only plays a crucial role in the economy but also serves as the largest formal employer, engaging over a third of the country's workforce.

Other significant contributors to Fiji's economy include remittances, mineral water, gold, agriculture (particularly vegetables and sugar), as well as textiles, animal products, and timber.

In August 2024, Fiji and the European Union (EU) further deepened their trade relations through the full implementation of the EU-Pacific States Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The EPA is a trade and development agreement, which liberalises bilateral trade in order to promote sustainable development and the integration of Fiji into the world economy. The effective implementation of the EPA and its tariff liberalisation commitments further enhance trade opportunities for businesses and investors.

Fiji is already reaping the benefits of the EPA, which provides duty-free and quota-free access for Fijian exports to the EU – the world’s largest single market. This helps boost Fiji’s exports by allowing Fijian made products to enter the EU markets without import taxes.

With the removal of duties on European products, the Fijian consumers and businesses will have better access to high-quality goods from the EU, including advanced technology and machinery. This will improve the quality and efficiency of production in Fiji and competitiveness of Fijian made products.

The EPA also plays a pivotal role in facilitating cooperation on trade and investment and on supporting the development of value chains, including through a unique concession by the EU – the so-called “Global sourcing” provision. Once operational, this provision will allow Fiji to export processed fish to EU that are sourced from foreign-flagged vessels.

Fiji’s main exports to the EU are cane sugar, frozen and processed fish, bottled water, processed ginger, gold and rum, while the main imports from the EU are manufacturing machineries, frozen cooked potatoes, vaccines for humans, fertilisers, and replacement parts of machines.he EPA gives all Fijian products duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market — the world’s largest single market. It helps the country to alleviate poverty and create jobs based on international values and principles, including sustainable development and human rights.

Fiji exports fish, water, gold and sugar to the EU market. Fiji imports from the EU include manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, and chemicals. Australia, Singapore, the US and New Zealand are also Fiji’s main trading partners.

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    In 2014, Fiji started the application of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Pacific which it had signed in 2009. The EPA gives all Fijian products duty-free, quota-free access  to the EU market — the world’s largest single market.

    In 2014, Fiji started the application of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Pacific which it had signed in 2009. The EPA gives all Fijian products duty-free, quota-free access  to the EU market — the world’s largest single market.

    Copyright: Julius Sliver

Development Cooperation

The European Union’s Development Cooperation with Fiji

Under the European Union's funding instrument for 2021 – 2027, Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), Fiji’s priority sector is climate change.  This is implemented through a  EUR 12 million budget support which will facilitate the entry into force of the Climate Change Act, a comprehensive legal basis to support Fiji’s sustainable development objectives, long-term climate ambition, net-zero emissions target, and commitment to protecting Fiji’s environment.

This budget support action is aligned with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Samoa Agreement and the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, in particular supporting sustainable and inclusive prosperity.

The budget support is complemented by technical assistance.

Other areas of focus is the development of renewable energy, particularly hydropower. The EU is working with Fiji to support the construction of the Qaliwana/Vatutokotoko Hydropower Development Scheme, which will help reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainable energy production.

Fiji also benefits from several regional programmes that fall under the following priority sectors: Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development, and Fundamental Values and Human Development.

Global Gateway

The EU's Global Gateway strategy encourages public and private investment in infrastructure, green energy, education and research for sustainable development.

The Global Gateway is the EU's positive offer of cooperation to our partner countries in support of their own strategic autonomy, aligning partner countries and EU interests by increasing high-quality geostrategic investments and promoting sustainable finance. The Global Gateway represents the European Union's effort to reduce the global investment gap and boost smart, clean and secure connections in the digital, energy and transport sectors, as well as to strengthen health, education and research systems. It provides sustainable investment opportunities to increase the prosperity and security of our global partners and Europe.

Covering five main themes (digital, climate and energy, transport, health and education and research) it is implemented through the Team Europe approach.

In Fiji, the EU is working on the following flagship initiative which falls within the scope of the Global Gateway:

Assessing the viability of Qaliwana and Vatutokotoko Hydropower Development Project aims to facilitate and support the increased hydropower generation capacity in Fiji. Through the Qaliwana and Vatutokotoko cascade hydropower development scheme, the production of renewable electricity in Fiji is expected to increase significantly (between 94 and 167 GWh/year additional). This initiative will help reduce Fiji’s reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions, while also addressing the increasing electricity demand driven by economic growth and the electrification of the transport sector. The components foreseen to be supported by this project are: (i) construction of the Qaliwana hydropower plant (+22 MW) and (ii) construction of the Vatutokotoko hydropower plant (+31 MW).