Photo: (L-R) Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director General, European Commission/ Directorate General for International Partnerships; Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director, European External Action Service; Kapi Maro, Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Jacque Fradin, EU Ambassador to PNG; and Buri Gari, Acting Director General Multilateral Division, Foreign Affairs.
European Union political delegates met with their Papua New Guinea foreign affairs counterparts at the latter's Waigani office on the 27th of February to discuss their shared political interests and development agendas between the EU and PNG.
The 5th High Level Papua New Guinea and European Union Political Dialogue was co-chaired by Paola Pampaloni (Deputy Managing Director Asia and Pacific, European Union External Action Service) for the EU side and Kapi Maro (Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs) PNG side.
Present for the dialogue were Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director General, European Commission/ Directorate General for International Partnerships; Jacque Fradin, EU Ambassador to PNG; and Buri Gari, Acting Director General Multilateral Division, Foreign Affairs. It was witnessed by French Ambassador Guillaume Lemoine.
The discussion included good governance, peace and security, multilateral relations and rule-based order, the Indo-Pacific Strategies for the European Union, preventing gender-based violence, and fostering children's rights.
A major program eyed for the next seven years is the continuation of the "WaSH" program (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and the establishment of a human rights commission. A new program to be launched soon is for climate change and biodiversity, led by the EU Team.
Both the EU and PNG governments are looking forward to attending the COP 28 climate change and carbon emissions meeting starting the 28th of November 2023, stressing the need to tackle these global issues and the Paris Agreement.
The EU delegates also presented the tool box "European Fund for Sustainable Development" under its development goal to attract capital and investments to PNG.
Both parties also agreed on the continuation of the Economic Partnerships Agreement (EPA).
Mr. Maro announced after the dialogue that Papua New Guinea values its important relationship established between the European Union since 1975 and are keen to work in partnership in terms of economical, political, and social ties established.
Ms. Pampaloni responded that they were happy with the dialogue and are looking for progression to be made, adding: "A steady form of governance and a secure society ready for development is the way forward."
