Fiji&ndash;Spain relations

Fiji–Spain relations

Fiji-Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Spain has an embassy office in Suva which reports directly to the Spanish embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. Fiji maintains relations with Spain through its embassy in Belgium.
Diplomatic relations
Spain has had relations with Fiji since 1977 and the Embassy in Wellington, officially opened in June 2009, has jurisdiction over Fiji.
Economic relations
Until 2009 Fiji has benefited from the access of its sugar to the European market under the aid program of the so-called "sugar reform", whereby Fiji received preferential prices. It had a preferential price but substantially lower than the one in 2009 force until 2015.
In 2009 Fiji signed a new Economic Partnership Treaty (EPA) with the European Union. It provides free access to surcharges to Fiji products to all member countries and in turn Fiji releases surcharges around 87% of products imported from the EU.
Bilateral trade with Spain is very small. In 2011, Spain imported goods for €42,000 and exported for €1,309,000; that is a balance
favorable to Spain of €1,267,000. In 2010 the balance has also been favorable to Spain for €232,000.
The main items imported by Fiji are: intermediate products (75%) and industrial equipment (15%). The main item exported to Spain are raw materials (99%).
Cooperation
Due to the coup d'état perpetrated in December 2006, and in accordance with Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement (Article 96 of the Agreement provides for
possibility of taking necessary measures in case of non-compliance by one of the Parties of the obligations related to the essential elements of the Agreement, that is, respect for human rights and democratic principles and the rule of law), the aid has been suspended for development
In spite of this, the dialogue with the regime in power remains open, although with little results so far. However, the European Union provides assistance to Fiji through different routes:
* Measures for Sugar Producing Countries (AMSP), estimated at 50 million euros between 2011 and 2013, although a large part of this aid is conditional on democratic evolution.
* XX European Development Fund (EDF) and the Stability Instrument.
* European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights that will aim to support the activity of NGOs.
* Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in December 2009 but pending implementation.
Through the Forum Secretariat of the Pacific Islands, Fiji will benefit from $90.8 million along with fourteen other countries under the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Adaptation (ACSE) program.

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