RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The European Union and Marshall Islands
The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) is a Micronesian Pacific island country. The relationship between the European Union and RMI is governed by Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (the Samoa Agreement). RMI 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 in bilateral Political Dialogues, at various ACP-EU policy dialogues, and at global multilateral levels.
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CopyrightGovernment of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Her Excellency President Hilda C. Heine in Majuro, marking the commencement of her diplomatic work in the Marshall Islands as the EU’s chief diplomat in the Pacific.
Political Relations
Political relations between the EU and Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands consists of 5 islands and 29 atolls, with a population of 60,000.
RMI participates in comprehensive policy dialogues within the ACP-EU institutions from senior officials to parliamentary and ministerial levels.
The EU and RMI hold High-Level Political Dialogues to address common interests and challenges, such as climate change, oceans, human rights, development cooperation, economic and trade cooperation.
RMI and the EU are engaged in the Pacific region through the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Pacific Community (SPC). The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) coordinates the ACP-EU policy dialogues. Both apply a short-stay Visa Waiver Agreement, to encourage people-to-people contacts, boost tourism and invigorate business.
TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS
TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE EU AND RMI
Marshall Islands is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), categorised as Upper Middle-Income Country. The economy is characterized by its high dependence on external assistance, with substantial contributions from the United States through the Compact of Free Association.
Marshall Islands can accede to the EU-Pacific States Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), currently applied by the EU, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands. The EPA would give Marshall Islands duty-free, quota-free access for all its products to the EU market — the world’s largest single market. In exchange, Marshall Islands would partially and progressively liberalise their market to EU imports, reducing the cost of intermediate and consumer goods.
The EU’s main exports to Marshall Islands are passenger and cargo ships.
Development Cooperation
The European Union’s Development Cooperation with Marshall Islands
Under the European Union's funding instrument for 2021 – 2027, Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), RMI's priority sector for support is water security. Support to this priority is provided through a EUR 6 million project titled Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA). Clean water, a fundamental necessity, becomes even more vital in the face of climate-induced challenges, such as the frequent and extreme droughts experienced by the Marshall Islands.
In alignment with the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration, gender equality will be mainstreamed throughout the action. The project acknowledges and highlights the vital role of women in WASH and seeks to create opportunities for greater gender inclusion.
RMI 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.