BY JOSES SAREN
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) Rick Houenipwela delivered a key address on behalf of Pacific member states at the 121st Session of the (Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States) OACPS Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels.
According to a statement from MFAET, addressing the assembly under Agenda Item 10, Minister Houenipwela stressed that while great distances and limited administrative resources make physical attendance from the Pacific difficult, the region’s dedication to the OACPS remains steadfast.
He calls on the organisation to modernise its structure to better support the distinct vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
“Our collective voice is most powerful when we translate unified diplomacy into actual, practical results.
“The Pacific wants a streamlined, effective OACPS that channels its energy where joint action truly matters,” Minister Houenipwela said.
The statement highlighted the Pacific’s four-point plan.
First in this plan is on the Malabo Declaration of which Pacific SIDS are calling for a streamlined, budgeted and highly focused execution plan, concentrating on climate resilience through the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index and Pacific Resilience Facility, the blue economy, and regional connectivity.
Second, on the Samoa Agreement, Minister Houenipwela stressed that members should prioritise moving from a temporary framework to active, targeted operations.
As stressed under this component, the Pacific wants a scheduled timeline for the first OACPS–EU Joint Council, immediate launch of the Pacific Regional Protocol working with the Pacific Islands Forum, and a permanent agenda slot for Samoa Agreement updates.
Third, on member fees, the statement said the Pacific agrees to reviewing contributions but urges a consensus-based approach, requesting country-specific simulations and protective financial buffers for the smallest island states, while supporting the Secretariat’s work to tighten spending controls.
Fourth, on trade, Minister Houenipwela pointed to the United Kingdom’s decision to suspend tariffs on imported tuna, a measure he said threatens Pacific seafood processors’ competitive advantage. He urges the OACPS Secretariat and its Geneva office to coordinate a swift, defensive response.
The statement said the Pacific looks forward to welcome OACPS Secretary-General Moussa S. Batraki to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in early September 2026, calling it an ideal opportunity to align the organisation’s reform plans with Pacific regional cooperation.
Minister Houenipwela concluded by reaffirming the Pacific’s commitment to a financially stable, politically influential OACPS delivering real, practical value to all its members.
Photo credit: MFAET
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