The European Union (EU) is keen to support the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), but challenges with the current structure could complicate its involvement, according to Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships.
Speaking about the EU’s potential contribution to the PRF, Urpilainen acknowledged the need for more flexibility in the facility’s design.
“We are exploring opportunities to contribute, but the current structure is very hard for our procedures and rules,” she said.
“We know some individual member states are going to contribute, and I promised to discuss with our member states how Team Europe – the Commission and all 27 member states – could contribute more strongly.”
The PRF, hosted by Tonga and expected to be endorsed by Forum Leaders during their retreat in Vava’u, is a Pacific-led, member-owned financing facility aimed at generating investment income for community resilience projects.
The facility is expected to become operational in 2026, providing some time for the EU to determine its approach.
Urpilainen highlighted the need for further clarity and discussions with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to better understand the facility’s structure.
“Our Delegation in Fiji will lead these discussions, but we need more information on the structure and modalities,” she noted.
“We are looking into whether there will be a way for us to be part of the facility, but the objective and strength of the PRF is something we very much share.”
EU Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the EU’s commitment to climate action in the Pacific.
“Climate change is the number one priority of our cooperation in the Pacific, and that remains the case,” Plinkert said.
“We are also the main contributor to international climate finance, but we need to find the correct modalities to contribute to the PRF.”
The EU’s next steps will focus on clarifying the details and structure of the PRF to determine how it can best support this Pacific-led initiative.
