According to the EU High Representative, Catherine Asthon, the EU wants to go beyond its traditional donor-recipient relationship with Pacific islands, and develop a more comprehensive partnership which can successfully address issues of global importance such as climate change. The EU therefore proposes to renew its EU-Pacific development partnership so that economic growth goes hand in hand with good governance, sustainability and shared responsibilities for common goods.

The now adopted ''Towards a renewed EU–Pacific development partnership'' Joint Communication co-authored by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commission Vice President, Catherine Ashton, and European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, sets a stronger focus on addressing climate change and development in a tailored manner and paves the way for efficient and more coordinated cooperation.

The EU wants to develop the partnership with the Pacific islands because those are an alarming case of the adverse effects of climate change where rising sea levels have an impact upon every aspect of citizens' lives and hamper the economic development. The Joint Communication spells out a commitment to improving coordination on climate change at the international level. The EU will present the document in the run up to the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012 emphasising that, greening the economy is essential to promoting long term sustainable and inclusive growth, human health and well being.

The EU’s external action has at its disposal a wide range of policies and instruments that are very relevant for the Pacific. Development and climate change assistance to Pacific countries from the EU Budget and European Development Fund (EDF) increased substantially to approximately €785 million for the period 2008-2013.