SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT (SPARTECA) 1981
SPARTECA is a non-reciprocal trade agreement under which the two developed nations of the Pacific Islands Forum, Australia and New Zealand offer duty free and concessional access for virtually all products originating from the developing island member countries of the Forum. SPARTECA entered into force on 1 January 1981.
SOUTH PACIFIC NUCLEAR FREE ZONE TREATY (SPNFZ) 1985
The (SPNFZ) Treaty seeks to ban all forms of nuclear testing by the Parties. Under the Protocols, the nuclear weapon states agree not to use or threaten to use nuclear explosive devices against any Party to the Treaty, and apply the basic provisions of the Treaty to their respective territories in the zone.
TARAWA DECLARATION 1989
The Tarawa Declaration was adopted in Tarawa, Kiribati in 1989. The Forum expressed its profound concern at the damage to regional fisheries and to the economy and environment of the South Pacific region by pelagic drift net fishing. As a result of regional efforts, drift net fishing ceased in the South Pacific.
The Honiara Declaration acknowledges the importance of law enforcement cooperation in countering threats to the region from criminal activity including transnational crime. Areas of law enforcement that have been identified as a priority included legislative arrangements and training.
WAIGANI CONVENTION 1995
The Waigani Convention seeks to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region. The Waigani Convention came into force on 21 October 2001.
The Aitutaki Declaration contains guiding principles governing regional security cooperation in the region.
The Biketawa Declaration outlines guiding principles for good governance and courses of action for a regional response to crises in the region. In 2003, Forum leaders endorsed a Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in accordance with the guidelines of the Biketawa Declarations.
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM 2000
The constitutive treaty for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat currently in force is the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, done at Tarawa on 30 October 2000. In 2004, as part of a range of recommendations to reform the Forum, Leaders directed that its constitutive Agreement be reviewed to reflect the new purposes and functions of the Forum. The resulting new Agreement was opened for signature on 27 October 2005, and has been signed by all Forum members. The new Agreement will enter into force when it is ratified by all sixteen Forum members.
PACIFIC AGREEMENT ON CLOSER ECONOMIC RELATIONS (PACER) AND PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES TRADE AGREEMENT (PICTA) 2001
PACER is a regional economic cooperation between all Forum members, including Australia and New Zealand and entered into force on 3 October 2002 after seven members ratified the agreement. The PICTA is a free trade agreement, initially applying to the 14 Forum Island Countries, and entered into force on 13 April 2003 after six members ratified it. Eventual trade integration was on the inaugural 1971 Forum agenda.
NASONINI DECLARATION ON REGIONAL SECURITY 2002
The Nasonini Declaration further highlights the region’s concerns over and response to transnational crime and terrorism.
PACIFIC OCEANS POLICY 2002
The Pacific Oceans Policy aims to ensure the future sustainable use of the Pacific Ocean and its resources by Pacific Islands communities and external partners.
PACIFIC ISLANDS AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT 2003
Leaders endorsed the Pacific Islands Air Services Agreement for signature. The PIASA enters into force after six members have ratified it.
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES 2003
Forum Leaders adopted nine Principles of Good Leadership.
HIVAIDS REGIONAL STRATEGY 2004
Leaders endorsed the HIV/AIDS Regional Strategy, and noted the need for transparent and concerted public discussions of HIV/AIDS issues.
PACIFIC PLAN 2005
Leaders adopted the Pacific Plan, to strengthen regional cooperation and integration in areas where the region could gain the most through sharing resources of governance, alignment of policies and delivery of practical benefits.
NEW FORUM AGREEMENT 2005
Leaders adopted a new Forum Agreement establishing the Forum as an inter-governmental organisation at international law. The Agreement enters into force when it is signed and ratified by all 16 member states.
VAVA’U DECLARATION ON PACIFIC FISHERIES 2007
Leaders adopted the Vava’u Declaration on Pacific Fisheries to reaffirm the importance of regional fisheries resources as a key driver for sustainable economic growth in the region.
NIUE DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE 2008
Leaders adopted the Niue Declaration on Climate Change, which commits Forum members to continue to develop Pacific-tailored approaches to combating climate change, consistent with their ability to actively defend and protect their own regional environment, with the appropriate support of the international community.
THE CAIRNS COMPACT
The Cairns Compact was developed to bring about new determination and invigorated commitment to lift the economic and development performance of the region. The Compact seeks more effective coordination of available development resources from Forum Island Countries and all development partners, focused on achieving real progress against the MDGs.
