The Honourable Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, met with Director-General Stefano Manservisi of the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) on Tuesday 24^th April 2018.

During their discussions, the Honourable Prime Minister acknowledged the Short Stay Visa Waiver Agreement between Samoa and the European Union which was applied provisionally from 2015 and entered into force on 1st February 2018. The Agreement allows for visa-free travel for citizens of Samoa to 26 of the 28 Member states of the European Union for a period of up to 90 days and has greatly facilitated the temporary movement of nationals within the region.

The Director-General also briefed the Prime Minister on the EU’s preparations for negotiations with the ACP Group.  Other topics discussed included the Pacific Resilience Facility, the holding of a Pacific-EU Summit, the possibility of establishing a Pacific Regional Development Bank, the Pacific ACP Office in Brussels and fast-tracking climate change funding for the benefit of the Pacific region.