SAMOA’S PARTICIPATION AT THE FOURTH EU INDO PACIFIC MINISTERIAL FORUM

[PRESS RELEASE 25 November 2025] – The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo led Samoa’s delegation to the EU Indo Pacific Ministerial Forum held in Brussels, Belgium from 20 to 21 November 2025. The Forum was attended by around 70 delegations from the EU membership and institutions as well as from countries and regional organisations from across the East coast of Africa to Asia and to the Pacific Islands countries.

The fourth EU–Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, builds on the success of the previous editions in Paris (2022), Stockholm (2023) and Brussels (2024). It serves as a high-level platform for dialogue aimed at shaping a collective vision for the region’s future and identifying concrete actions to strengthen cooperation and solidarity. The Forum was chaired by High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security and Vice President of the European Commission Ms. Kaja Kallas.

The Deputy Prime Minister co-moderated with the Executive Vice President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera the round table on Common endeavours for a clean and sustainable future, where discussions were centred around how climate mitigation and adaptation can go hand in hand with sustainable growth, focusing on clean energy, renewable hydrogen, circular economy and ocean governance with the aim to advance cooperation on the green transition through partnerships. He sent a strong message to the meetings of the importance of meeting the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Agreement.

“Implementing rather than rolling back on green policies should be another strong signal we can send from Brussels this week. Only through genuine cooperation and mutual trust can we craft solutions that no single nation could achieve alone.” Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa.

He also stressed that the global financial architecture must evolve to deliver finance at the speed and scale of the climate crisis. During the high-level event on the Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure the Deputy Prime Minister was one of the key speakers and he highlighted the importance of regional and cross regional collaboration in order to combat the challenges we are facing in the Pacific region such as IUU fishing, transnational crimes at sea, trafficking, environmental and resources exploitation issues.

While in Brussels, Honourable Toelupe also met with other high level delegations to discuss issues of mutual concern and strengthen partnerships for the benefit of Samoa and its people. These included a Pacific Joint Dialogue with the EU Parliamentarian and Chair of Constitutional Affairs and Vice Chair of the Delegation to the Pacific- EU Assembly, Mr. Sven Simon. They discussed the Samoa Agreement and its implementation, regional geopolitics and upcoming EU-Pacific Parliamentarian meetings.

Moreover, the Deputy Prime Minister also met with the Secretary General of OACPS, H.E Mr Moussa Batraki, to identify key priorities for the African, Caribbean and Pacific organization to ensure the effective implementation of the Samoa Agreement and to hear a briefing on the upcoming 11th ACP Leaders’ Summit to be held in Equatorial Guinea in 2026. Other bilateral meeting included the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Mr. Vidmantas Verbickas and the Foreign Minister of Germany, Dr. Johann Wadephul to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation. The Deputy Prime Minister also had an opportunity for a brief meeting with the EU High Representative/Vice President Ms. Kaja Kallas.

Samoa’s delegation included Mrs. Peseta Noumea Simi, CEO for Foreign Affairs and Trade, H.E Sauiao Francella Strickland, Ambassador of Samoa to Belgium and the EU, Ms. Noelani Manoa, Counsellor to the Embassy of Samoa and Ms. Michaela Procazkova, Adviser with the Embassy of Samoa.

END.