EU vows to continue supporting Small Island Developing States

BRUSSELS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua/Sun) -- European Commissioner for Development said on Monday the European Union (EU) will continue supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address their specific vulnerabilities and challenges.

Commissioner Andris Piebalgs made the remarks in an international conference in Samoa, according to an EU statement issued in Brussels.

"We have been, and remain, a leading donor and key trading partner for SIDS," said Piebalgs, noting that between 2007 and 2012 the EU alone provided around 3.5 billion euros (4.6 U.S. dollars) to SIDS in development and humanitarian aid through bilateral, regional and thematic programs.

"And I'm here today to assure you that we will continue supporting your efforts," he stressed.

Piebalgs also specified the several key areas that may be involved in bilateral aid on SIDS, namely climate change, sustainable energy, healthy oceans, seas and marine resources, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, food and nutrition security and the post-2015 agenda.

On the financing side, the EU and its member states remain committed to doing their bit to meet the developed countries' goal of jointly mobilizing 100 billion U.S. dollars a year by 2020 from a wide variety of sources, public and private included.