Opinion: Passports for sale – Lessons for Nauru and Solomon Islands from Vanuatu’s EU rebuke

Vanuatu becomes first country to ever lose EU visa-free access after golden passport scheme poses security threat. Earlier this month Vanuatu received a stinging rebuke from the European Parliament, becoming the first

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EU Parliament votes to Permanently end Vanuatu’s Schengen Visa waiver

The European Parliament has voted 62-1, with two abstentions, to end Vanuatu’s visa-free access to the Schengen Area. Parliament Rapporteur Paulo Cunha notes this marks “the first time we have removed a third

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New EU regulations challenge Fiji’s fairtrade producers

A balancing act between global standards and local realities Fair trade practices in Fiji are under increasing scrutiny as new international regulations push producers to meet stringent environmental and human rights

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EU rebukes African, Caribbean, Pacific org ‘not aligned with reality’

The European Commission is privately threatening to stop propping up the 79-member Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States amid concerns of financial mismanagement, just months after signing a new 20-year

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UNDP, EU, and SPC Collaborate to Enhance Fiji’s Development Minerals Sector

Suva, Fiji: A significant milestone in the advancement of Fiji’s Development Minerals sector has occurred as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji – in

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Apia hosts signing of new EU-ACP Samoa Agreement

More than two decades ago, the European Union and a group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states were due to meet in Suva, to sign a new partnership agreement. But the ceremony, scheduled for June 2000, never

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EU allows 18 months extension to Vanuatu

The European Union (EU) has given a further 18 months’ extension to allow time for the Vanuatu Government to complete reforming its Citizenship Programme. This follows a letter from Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau

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EU Council partially suspends Vanuatu visa waiver agreement

The Council of the European Union(EU) has decided to partially suspend the visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu due to what it says are risks posed by its investor citizenship schemes, also known as ‘golden passport’

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Opinion: Europe’s efforts to vilify Vanuatu’s Citizenship Program are tone deaf, protectionist and foolish

In a press call on 12 January, the European Union announced that it may look to suspend its bilateral agreement with Vanuatu, which allows citizens of the Pacific nation to enter, visa free. This obstruction—which

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EU funds projects to “put food on people’s plates”

The European Union (EU) and the South Pacific Community (SPC) have launched three separate projects for the Pacific region focussed on cutting dependence on imported fuel and improving access to clean water and

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French Ambassador to take up EU role

The French Ambassador to Fiji, Sujiro Seam has been nominated as the new Head of the European Union Delegation to the Paci?c Region. The nomination was announced by Federica Mogherini, High

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EU says tax blacklisting should be no surprise

FIJI, the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu have been added to a European Union blacklist of tax havens. And despite concerns about process raised by all three countries, the EU has told Islands Business that these

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