RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The European Union and Niue
Niue is a Polynesian Pacific island country. Relations between the European Union and Niue are governed by the Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (the Samoa Agreement). Niue 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 other multilateral levels.
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The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert presented her credentials to the Prime Minister of Niue, the Hon. Dalton Tagelagi at the Prime Minister’s Office in Fale Fono II, Halamahaga, marking the commencement of her diplomatic work in Niue as the EU’s chief diplomat in the Pacific.
Political Relations
Political relations between the EU and Niue
Niue's land area is about 261 km2, with a population of approximately 1,600. As a self-governing part of the Realm of New Zealand, Niue is not a UN member state.
Niue participates in policy dialogues within the ACP-EU institutions from senior officials to parliamentary and ministerial levels.
The EU and Niue hold local Political Dialogues to address common interests and challenges, such as climate change, oceans, human rights, development cooperation, economic and trade cooperation. Both 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.
As Niue citizens hold New Zealand passports they benefit from the European Visa-Exempt Program which allows for short-stay visits to the Schengen area without the need for a visa.
Economic and Trade Relations
Economic and trade relations between the EU and Niue
Niue is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). The economy is mainly driven by tourism which has seen growing development in recent years. Overseas development assistance, particularly from New Zealand, is also a major contributor to Niue’s economy.
Niue benefits from the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) regime that reduces or removes import duties from some of Niue’s exports to the EU market – the world’s largest single market. This helps developing countries such as Niue to alleviate poverty and create jobs based on international values and principles, including sustainable development and human rights.
As part of the ACP Pacific group, Niue can join the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) the EU has with Fiji, PNG, Samoa and Solomon Islands, if it wishes to export its products duty-free quota-free to the EU market.
Development Cooperation
The European Union’s Development Cooperation with Niue
Between 2014-2020, the European Union has supported a wide range of cooperation projects that has benefitted Niue’s energy sector- building on successful initiatives, for renewables production and energy efficiency.