WAR and economic pressure have placed the rules-based international order under serious strain, says European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert.
Speaking at a Europe Day event in Fiji, Plinkert urged Pacific and European partners to stand together for peace, stability and international law.
Plinkert pointed pointing to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East as evidence of the serious strain on the rules-based international from wars, hybrid threats and economic coercion.
She acknowledged Pacific partners for their consistent support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in multilateral forums, saying that solidarity helped uphold shared principles and the UN Charter.
Plinkert said the EU–Pacific relationship had deepened through practical cooperation, describing Europe as a “reliable and trusted partner” amid global uncertainty.
She highlighted joint work on climate action and ocean governance, including the entry into force of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement—the High Seas Treaty—as well as expanding investment links through the EU’s Global Gateway programme and growing trade and business engagement between the regions.
“Together, we have achieved milestones on issues that matter most to Europe and the Pacific, such as climate change and ocean governance,” Plinkert said, adding that cooperation built on fairness and mutual respect remained essential as international tensions rise.
Europe Day commemorates the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which proposed pooling coal and steel production to prevent war in Europe — a step that later evolved into today’s European Union.
EU officials said the reception was also aimed to reinforce long-term cooperation with Pacific partners on shared priorities, including security and governance, climate resilience, and sustainable ocean management.
