Maldives signs Samoa Agreement to possibly pave way for better prices for fish exports

Maldives, on Monday, has signed the “Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part”, otherwise known as the Samoa Agreement.  

The agreement was signed during a special ceremony held at the OACPS headquarters located in Belgium's capital Brussels by Ambassador of the Maldives to Belgium Geela Ali. Following the execution of the agreement, ‘Deflation’ and ‘Reservation’ have been submitted by the Maldives to the provisions of the Agreement that conflict with the Maldivian constitution.

This marks the first such agreement executed between the Maldives and EU. It will pave the way to enhance cooperation between the Maldives and the EU on various fronts. It will also pave the way for Maldives to receive easements granted to OACPS nations by the EU.

The President’s Office states these opportunities would also lead to better prices for Maldivian fisheries products when exported internationally.

The Samoa Agreement is the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and focuses on six key priority areas to tackle the main challenges over the next two decades. They include human rights, democracy, and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and migration and mobility.

The agreement was executed between OACPS’ 79 member states and EU’s 27 member states.

OACPS was incepted under the ‘Georgetown Agreement’ in 1975 as an organization among African, Caribbean and Pacific regions countries. Maldives became a full member of the organization in December 2022.