Tonga is seeking funds from the European Union to rehabilitate earthquake-damaged infrastructure in Ha'apai and other regions, utilising an EU emergency allocation; and has also changed the focus of its remaining EU development assistance for the outer islands.

The request was part of a Tongan proposal for using uncommitted remaining EU country funding.

The EU development projects for Tonga's outer islands were also refocused this year due to the government's difficult financial situation.

The proposals were submitted to the EU for consideration in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, this week at a meeting of ministers from 79 member countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Island countries Group of States (ACP) and 25 European Countries who are EU members.

Tonga's delegation, headed by Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a statement on May 29 said that the EU since 1975 had been a significant donor to Tonga and the Pacific, with the EU becoming a core donor to Vava'u and later the Niuas.

Uncommitted funds

They said that the Vava‘u Development Committee Secretariat had discovered uncommitted funds from old and current programmes, which included: a total of ...€2.5 million, representing remaining funds from earlier Stabex transfers; the sum of $3 million, unused funds from the 6th, 7th and 8th European Development Fund, and an unallocated amount of ...€1.2 million from the current 9th European Development Fund.

At the end of 2005, Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou as National Authorizing Officer (NAO) had submitted to the EU for consideration, a Framework of Mutual Obligations (FMO) of projects for implementation by utilizing these uncommitted funds and targeting community activities and productive sectors "to generate employment and stimulate the economy".

However, the delegation said that this year Tonga's priorities for using the funding had changed "because of the difficult financial situation due to the pay rise and the [EU's] preference to apply the remaining funds nationwide as a means to addressing that situation."

Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou preferred, "the focus should remain on Vava‘’u and Niuas, with emphasis on the outer islands of Ha‘apai and the most vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups in Tonga".

A time limit for the utilization of the unspent funds demanded that these funds be committed urgently.

Projects for funding

The delegation said that consequently, a revised FMO on a nationwide basis to include only the following projects for funding under the remaining Stabex funds had been submitted to the EU for consideration:

1. Complete Upgrading of Ngu hospital;

2. Upgrading of water supply in Vava‘u, Ha‘’apai and the Niuas;

3. Upgrading jetties and road access at the outer islands of Vava'u and Ha'apai: 1 new jetty (Ofu) and three upgraded jetties (Hunga, Kapa and Ovaka), incline steps and three km agricultural road, and a project to arrest the erosion at Hunga;

4. Clearance of Tafahi Channel;

5. Building and installation of cooling facilities and fumigation chambers, procurement of necessary facilities, housing and agro-processing equipment;

6. Building and upgrading of the fish wharf and the fish market hydraulic lift, cradle, rail, bollards and fenders for fisheries wharf and ice machine for fish market;

7. Upgrading Kaufana Airport, ‘Eua;

8. Administrative Costs of the Project Management Unit;

9. Vanilla Export Price Stabilization a 2005 Parliamentary motion in view of the low prices of vanilla on the international market;

10. A nationwide Vanilla Export Development Project from the Ministry of Agriculture (the project document when received will be transmitted as the project has already been discussed with the EU Delegate).

"Other projects, based on the nationwide principle, are under project formulation so as to utilize the remaining EDF funds for submission to the EU," the delegation said in a press statement.

"A request for utilizing the remaining emergency allocation to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure in Ha...’apai and other regions affected by the recent earthquake has been submitted to the EU."

Cotonou Agreement

Initially, under the Cotonou Agreement (2000-2020), the 9th EDF (for 2000-2007) 3.5 million was allocated to the Vava‘u social sector support programme for primary and vocational education, health, sanitation and an allocation to the Non-State sectors.

Another ...€2.0 million was allocated for emergencies and was subsequently used to rehabilitate and renovate the Nafanua Harbour and roads to the wharf.

The 10th EDF (for the period 2008 - 2013) is currently under negotiation.

The Tongan delegation noted that, "with the EU preference to apply the unused funds nationwide, it is reasonable to assume its future intervention under the 10th EDF will be on that basis and on selective engagement on one or two sectors such as renewable energy, water and sanitation.

"As such, the completion of the development programme of Vava...’u and the Niuas will require co-financing, which approach has already been endorsed by Government. Such an approach must necessarily take into account the private sector and the most vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups in the outer-islands of Ha...’apai, ...‘Eua, rural Tongatapu and its surrounding islands," they stated.

The Joint ACP/EU Council of Ministers will meet Thursday 1 June and conclude on Friday 2 June 2006.

Tonga's delegation to the 83rd ACP Council of Ministers Meeting and 31st Joint ACP-EU Council of Ministers Meeting is Hon. Tu‘’a Taumoepeau Tupou, Minister for Foreign Affairs and National Authorizing Officer (NAO); H.E. Dr. Sione Ngongo Kioa, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the European Union; Mr. Tevita Tupou, Deputy National Authorizing Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Miss Odette Tupouohomohema, EU Desk Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.