The European Union is giving nearly 29 million US dollars to Pacific island nations as part of a five-year plan to boost development in the region.
he EU's development and humanitarian aid commissioner, Poul Nielson, signed an agreement in Fiji over the weekend adopting an EU strategy for the area.
He said the deal heralded a new era of comprehensive and intensive dialogue between the EU and the Pacific region.
The money will go to Pacific members of the 78 nation African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries.
Mr Nielson said The EU planned another five accords with ACP countries along the lines of the Pacific agreement.
ACP states enjoy preferential trade access to the EU but these are to go by 2008 as part of a new ACP-EU deal that will be negotiated over the next five years.
