19 Jul 2010

Forum's Pacific Plan said to be still in infancy five years on

7:54 am on 19 July 2010

The executive director of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy, Derek Brien, says the Pacific Island Forum's Pacific Plan is still in its infancy and it may be premature to measure its success.

The Forum has announced it will undertake a stock take of its achievements as it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.

The Pacific Plan was endorsed by Forum Leaders in 2005 to strengthen regional integration in the areas of economic growth, sustainable development, good governance, and security.

Derek Brien says that to date the aims of the Plan haven't always been translated into national relevance:

"Whilst there's a recognition of the benefits of regionalism and the whole concept of regionalism, no one's going to sign up to that at the expense of national sovereignty particularly as many of these countries are so young themselves."