Green Light to Strengthen Our Cooperation with Wallis

In its General Policy Speech, the government of New Caledonia announced its desire to strengthen its relations with the French Pacific communities. It was thus decided to update the special agreement between French authorities, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, through an amendment. Objective: to set a new framework and give a direction to this agreement signed on December 1, 2003, which aims to support the economy of Wallis and Futuna in order to maintain the population on site.

Since November 2019, several missions of the government of New Caledonia to Wallis and Futuna, and the Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia, have laid the foundations of this future document.

A Framework and a Method

  This amendment will formally specify "the scope, the modalities of operation and the financial commitment of each party", explained Vaimu'a Muliava. And on the substance, it will concretize the shared political will of the two archipelagos to "strengthen sustainable and beneficial relations in favor of their populations, their institutions and their economies," continued the Minister made responsible for relations with Wallis and Futuna by President Santa.

The cooperation actions will be strengthened and targeted in different areas (see box), while the implementation of the agreement will be entrusted to a steering committee, composed of the senior administration and political authorities of Wallis and Futuna, and New Caledonia. It will meet at least once a year. A Technical Committee whose main points of contact will be the the Regional Cooperation and External Relations Department (SCRRE) for New Caledonia and the Public Policy and Development Coordination Department (SCOPPD) for Wallis and Futuna will also be set up. "We have also commissioned SECAL to help us prioritize the issues and to plan them financially and operationally," added the member of the government who is particularly attentive to this issue.

Funding Secured for Five Years

In terms of financial commitments, Wallis and Futuna will make an annual contribution of 20 million francs for a period of five years starting in 2020. For its part, New Caledonia voted, at the time of the adoption of the main 2020 budget, a commitment authorization of 200 million francs for the period 2020 to 2024.

The participation of French authorities will be voluntary "in order to allow them to activate  various aid mechanisms available to them, which are not available to our collectivities because of our status," says Vaimu'a Muliava. For example, the Convergence contract or the 5.0 Recovery Plan.

Ready to Start in a Few Weeks

The date for the signing of this amendment, which could be organized during a "trip to Wallis and Futuna from 9 to 16 December", the President of the Government announced to the elected members of Congress, is still to be determined. That means that it would take place , a few days after the renewal of the leadership team of the Territorial Assembly scheduled for November 26.

This trip will also be an opportunity to hold the first steering committee of the special agreement under the aegis of the amendment "and to present the program for the next four years, based on the SECAL's recommendations," said Vaimu'a Muliava.

Vaimu'a Muliava, surrounded by the Prefect (left) and the President of the Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna, during his last trip from November 4 to 7