EU aid policy towards the Pacific ACPs

This paper reviews the EU's development policy in relation to the Pacific members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific group (ACP). It considers the particular characteristics and challenges faced by these island economies before turning to their trade relations with the EU and the Community's aid programme. It considers both the regional assistance programme and the particular experience of Fiji, the largest economy of the South Pacific. Finally, it attempts to draw some more general conclusions as to the effectiveness of EU aid administration and to identify those issues that remain to be addressed including monitoring, performance criteria, deconcentration and policy coherence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Future directions for comparative education dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region

The broad goals of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES) are: (1) to advance education for international understanding in the interests of peace, intercultural co-operation, mutual respect among peoples and observance of human rights; and (2) to improve education systems so that the right of all to education may be more fully realized. The Council comprises representatives of 39 national, regional or language-based comparative education societies. In all, membership of these societies is spread throughout every continent (other than Antarctica) in more than 80 nations. The WCCES has a unique leadership role in promoting comparative education dialogue. Two key concepts are highlighted in this paper: those of regionalism, and of partnership. The first concept, regionalism, is discussed in relation to shifting alliances and realignments of political, ideological and geographic borders occurring in the name of globalization, and their impact on regional priorities for educational reform. The second concept, that of partnership, is discussed in relation to both successful international policy and planning agreements, and the more controversial nature of so-called development partnerships for international educational assistance. The complexities of Asia-Pacific regional connections form the background framework for the paper. Education comparativists from the Asia-Pacific region are demonstrating active leadership in furthering dialogue in comparative and international education

Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Pacific Islands: Why Europe should listen in

Pacific Island countries (PICs) are developing countries representing one of the culturally richest and most diverse regions worldwide. A decade ago, the realization evolved at international level that intangible cultural heritage (ICH) represents a development tool with an inherent commercial value. Regional initiatives are currently trying to balance objectives of development and protection of ICH with the need for commercial exploitation and effects of commodification. Yet, the same cannot be said about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between PICs and the EU. The article advocates that current EU efforts in supporting regional and national processes meant to establish a preliminary level of legal protection for Pacific ICH are insufficient and inappropriate to the ‘living’ character of ICH. It promotes a more context-oriented design of intellectual property rights (IPR) provisions in EU policy instruments aimed at sustainable development of the Pacific region