Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka opened the 120th OACPS Council session in Brussels on 12 December as President-in-Office.
Addressing Ministers and delegates from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, Minister Agovaka thanked OACPS Secretary-General Moussa Batraki and the Secretariat for driving reforms during a period of institutional transition, and acknowledged the Kingdom of Eswatini for its leadership at the 119th Session and the reform roadmap handed over to the current Presidency.
“The OACPS stands at a critical crossroads,” Minister Agovaka said.
“This is not business as usual. The choices we make at this Session will shape the Organisation we present to our Leaders at the 11th OACPS Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in Africa, in March 2026 and the legacy we leave to the next generation.”
He highlighted key reforms already agreed, including a leaner senior management structure, budgetary stabilisation measures, and the decision to sell the old ACP House and purchase new premises for a modern, fit-for-purpose Secretariat in Brussels.
He also welcomed the Republic of Equatorial Guinea’s offer to host the 11th Summit in Malabo from 27–29 March 2026, and urged Member States to accelerate ratification of the Samoa Agreement and conclude the Rules of Procedure for OACPS–EU joint institutions.
Minister Agovaka issued a clear call for unity, solidarity, and shared responsibility—especially on timely payment of assessed contributions, political backing for reforms, and fair decisions on leadership posts.
“We will either reform together, or we will decline separately,” he said.
Noting Solomon Islands’ own commitments to the OACPS, he confirmed that Solomon Islands has ratified the Samoa Agreement and contributed towards the 2026 and 2027 budgets, and further urged all Member States to act accordingly to their respective capacities but with a shared sense of responsibility.
Meanwhile, Agovaka has called for Member States to translate reform commitments into measurable action and restore the Organisation’s credibility through delivery.
“The renewal of the OACPS is no longer an aspiration, it is an obligation,” Minister Agovaka said in his closing remarks.
“The credibility of our Organisation will be measured not by the quality of our debates, but by the discipline with which we implement the decisions we have taken.”
Presiding in his capacity as President-in-Office of the OACPS Council of Ministers, Minister Agovaka thanked delegations for the spirit of responsibility, unity and solidarity demonstrated throughout the three-day meeting.
The session brought together Ministers and senior representatives from across the OACPS membership to assess progress and chart a clear path forward for the Organisation’s renewal agenda.
Ministers provided firm direction to accelerate the OACPS reform and renewal agenda, including:
•Driving ratification and implementation of the Samoa Agreement, and strengthening joint engagement with the European Union through the Agreement’s institutional frameworks;
•Enhancing financial sustainability, including improved discipline in the timely payment of Member State contributions and practical measures to stabilise the Secretariat’s operations and reform programme;
•Reaffirming political support for the Secretary-General’s reform agenda, including restructuring and results-focused delivery; and
•Advancing preparations for the 11th OACPS Summit, to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in March 2026, with emphasis on inclusivity, resource mobilisation, and ensuring Leaders convene to endorse concrete solutions.
Minister Agovaka urged Member States to match the unity demonstrated in the meeting room with unity in implementation through coordinated positions, sustained political backing for the Secretariat, and concrete follow-up actions in the lead-up to the Malabo Summit.
Solomon Islands reaffirmed its full commitment to working closely with the OACPS Secretary-general, the Committee of Ambassadors, and all Member States to ensure diligent follow-up and effective implementation of the outcomes of the 120th Session of the OACPS Council of Ministers.
