RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The European Union and Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a Polynesian Pacific island country. The relationship between the European Union and Tuvalu is governed by the Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (the Samoa Agreement). Tuvalu 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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The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert presented her credentials to the Governor-General of Tuvalu, His Excellency Tofiga Vaevalu Falani at a Government ceremony in the Tuvaluan capital in March 2024.
Political Relations
Tuvalu consists of 3 reef islands, 6 atolls, and a population of 13,000.
Tuvalu participates in policy dialogues within the ACP-EU institutions from senior officials to parliamentary and ministerial levels. The EU also cooperates closely with Tuvalu to ensure our shared commitment to universal values and human rights principles are upheld at the international level.
The EU and Tuvalu hold Enhanced Political Dialogues to address common interests and challenges, such as climate change, oceans, human rights, development cooperation, economic and trade cooperation.
Tuvalu 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.
The EU and Tuvalu 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 Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), categorised as Upper Middle-Income Country. The economy is mainly driven by the public sector but also relies on fishing license fees, trust fund investments, official development assistance, and remittances for foreign currency earnings. As a small, isolated island country, Tuvalu is heavily import-dependent. Whilst public employment dominates Tuvalu’s economic base, fish exports and fishing licenses from Tuvalu’s waters provide a significant source of income, as well as passenger and cargo ships.
Tuvalu has officially requested to join the EU-Pacific States Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which aims to promote regional integration and sustainable development in the Pacific. Through the EPA, the EU market is fully open to Pacific States’ exports in exchange of a partial and gradual liberalisation of EU imports, accompanied by special provisions and assistance to promote trade of value added goods. Tuvalu’s accession to the EPA is expected to be completed in 2025.
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As part of the ACP Pacific group, Tuvalu can accede to the EU-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), currently applied between the EU and Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Solomon Islands.
Copyright: Julius Sliver
Development Cooperation
The European Union’s Development Cooperation with Tuvalu
Under the European Union's funding instrument for 2021 – 2027, Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), Tuvalu's priority sector for support is Rural Development. This initiative is implemented through budget support, with an allocation of EUR 4.5 million over the 5-year implementation period. The funding aligns with Te Kete — Tuvalu’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2021–2030 — which emphasizes the shared responsibility of all citizens in achieving the National Vision: "A Peaceful, Resilient, and Prosperous Tuvalu". Specifically, the EU’s support targetes Te Kete's Strategic Priority Area 2: Economic Development, focusing on national outcome eight (8), which aims to increase agricultural productivity.
The action aims to increase sustainable agricultural productivity and economic growth in Tuvalu by specifically reviving the coconut industry and livelihood. This is carried out through a coconut rehabilitation plan, combining agricultural replanting and an agroforestry approach. In alignment with the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration, gender equality is mainstreamed throughout the action. The project acknowledges and highlights the vital role of women in food systems and seeks to enhance their participation in the coconut industry, creating opportunities for greater gender inclusion. The budget support is complemented by the EU funded technical assistance on Coconut sector cooperation. The technical assistance is in place for a duration of 2.5 years and provides Tuvalu with two experts; on agriculture policy and the value chain.
Tuvalu 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.