18 Aug 2003

EU to pay towards stability fund

4:19 pm on 18 August 2003

The European Union says it will look at contributing to a peace and stability fund for the Pacific.

The director general for development at the European Commission, Koos Richelle, has held talks with representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum following the leaders' meeting in Auckland over the weekend.

Mr Richelle says as the EU already contributes to a security fund in Africa, it must be even-handed and consider similar contributions to the Pacific as part of the ACP grouping.

"In the world, there is a growing realisation of the fact that without peace and stability and security there will be no development - so you cannot hide in a development corner and then wait until peace and development has broken out at the cost of other budget articles, you have to be active there yourself."

Mr Richelle says the EU will look at supporting areas such as the logistical needs of any peace monitoring force.