EU extends suspension of development aid to Fiji

[posted 13 May 2014, 1515]

The Council of European Unions has extended by a further six months to September 2011 the suspension of its development aid to Fiji and hopes that it will “create a window of opportunity for new consultations”.

The Council says it will continue to watch the situation in Fiji and review it regularly at least once every six months.

In a communication to the President of Fiji, the Council referred to the consultation talks held in Brussels on 18 April 2007 in which the interim government confirmed a number of key commitments regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for democratic principles and the rule of law.

These commitments included the holding of free and fair parliamentary elections within 24 months from 1st March 2007.

The Council pointed out: “Regrettably, there have since been a series of regressive developments, in particular, in April 2009, meaning that Fiji is now in breach of a range of its commitments. This concerns notably the abrogation of the Constitution, the very substantial delay in holding the parliamentary elections and human rights violations… As Fiji has unilaterally decided to break a number of key commitments, this has led to losses for Fiji in terms of development funds.”

The EU has, however, expressed its “… readiness to engage in new consultation talks as soon as there is a reasonable prospect for a positive conclusion to such consultations”.

It wants the interim government to commit to an “inclusive domestic dialogue and to flexibility concerning the timeframe for the roadmap.

If the new consultations result in substantial commitments from Fiji, the EU said it will undertake an early, positive review of the appropriate measures currently in place.

Conversely, if the situation in Fiji does not improve, then further losses of development funds for Fiji are set to continue. In particular, the assessment of progress made towards constitutional rule will guide the EU in the upcoming decisions on accompanying measures for Sugar Protocol countries and Fiji’s National Indicative Programme under the 10th European Development Funds (ADFs),” it said.

MP Chaudhry