The European Commission intends broadening its relationship with the Pacific Island members of the ACP group of countries.
The Commission has announced its new strategy ahead of this week's ACP-EU meeting in Port Moresby.
The Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, says this stronger partnership will strengthen political dialogue and focus development cooperation on the sustainable management of natural resources.
The strategy includes three key elements.
These are building stronger political links on matters of common concern such
as security, trade, development and the environment.
Another is to focus on development co-operation, and the third is to increase the efficiency of aid delivery, which will include using more direct budgetary aid and working more closely with other partners, in particular Australia and New Zealand.
