The European Union's Ambassador to the region says EU funding for the Pacific will more than double for the next five years.
Fiji-based EU Ambassador, Wiepke van der Goot, made his first visit to the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau earlier this week to present his diplomatic credentials.
During his visit he reviewed aid projects, discussed climate change and also free trade negotiation progress.
Mr van der Goot says funding for the Pacific will increase by about 140 percent in the new five-year EU funding cycle, 2009-2013, going from 50.7 million US dollars during the last five-year period to 123.5 million.
An EU official says its increasing funding because of the good performance of Pacific countries compared to other regions, the EU also provides five-year funding packages to African and Caribbean nations
The three regions are collectively known as the ACP.
Funding to the Marshall Islands is also increasing from 5.8 million US dollars to 7.3 million over the next five years.
