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Europe

Europe is recognised as an important region for the Cook Islands in terms of development cooperation, economic and political relations. The Cook Islands’ twenty-year effort to participate in arrangements between African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the European Union (EU) was finally rewarded when, on 23 June 2000, the Cook Islands signed the Partnership Agreement  between the ACP States and the EU in Cotonou, Benin. 

Since 2000, the Cook Islands relations with the EU and its member states have grown with collaboration at both the bilateral and regional levels under the auspices of the Cotonou Agreement.  In addition to the European Community, the Cook Islands now has diplomatic relations with a number of EU member states including Portugal, Norway, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Czech Republic.  The Cook Islands also have diplomatic relations with Turkey.

With the European Union (EU) now including 27 states united as a political and economic entity it is one of the heavyweights of the global economy with significant influence on international trade rules.  In recognition of this and as provided in the Cotonou Agreement, the Cook Islands, along with other Pacific ACP states have been engaged in negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU since 2002.   

The European Union is a major donor to Pacific ACP states. Cooperation between Europe and the Pacific region dates back to 1975 although the Cook Islands have only been able to participate from 2000.  Under the Cotonou Agreement, the Cook Islands benefits from the European Development Fund (EDF) through the National Indicative Programme administered by the Ministry as well as the Regional Indicative Programme administered by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

In terms of future relations with the EU and its member states, Cook Islands efforts will be focused on two particular areas:
• The strengthening and deepening of relations between the Cook Islands and the EU and its various institutions at both the political and official level to create opportunities for development and technical cooperation; and
• Participation in ACP-EU negotiations on detailed aspects relating to the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement’s provisions

Diplomatic Relations: Europe

Portugal                                      1995

Republic of Bosnia & Herzegovina   1996

Kingdom of Norway                       1998

Spain                                          1998

Holy City                                      1999

Republic of France                         2000

European Communities                  2001

Federal Republic of Germany          2001

Republic of Italy                            2002

Kingdom of Belgium                       2005

Republic of Turkey                         2008

Czech Republic                              2008