Key Benefits:
President of the Republic,
On the report of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development,
Considering the Constitution, in particular articles 52 to 55;
Vu le Decree No. 53-192 of 14 March 1953 amended on the ratification and publication of international commitments undertaken by France;
Vu le Decree No. 94-24 of 4 January 1994 publishing the general agreement of friendship and cooperation between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, signed in Paris on 15 July 1993;
Vu le Decree No. 94-249 of 23 March 1994 issuing the agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu on the development of regional cooperation with New Caledonia, signed in Port-Vila on 19 November 1993;
Vu le Decree No. 2010-1661 of 28 December 2010 issuing the cooperation agreement between New Caledonia and Vanuatu between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, signed at Nouméa on 16 February 2010,
Decrete:
The agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu on cooperation between New Caledonia and Vanuatu, signed in Nouméa on 23 February 2015, will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development are responsible, each with respect to him, for the execution of this decree, which will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
CONVENTION
OVERVIEW OF THE FRANÇAISE REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VANUATU REPUBLIC ON COOPERATION IN THE NEW CALEDONIA AND VANUATU, SIGNED TO NOUMED ON 23 FEBRUARY 2015
The Government of the French Republic represented by the President of the Government of New Caledonia, and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, below designated respectively "the French Party" and "the Ni-vanuatu Party" and, jointly, "The Parties"
Considering the General Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation signed in Paris on 15 July 1993 between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu and the Agreement on the Development of Regional Cooperation with New Caledonia signed in Port-Vila on 19 November 1993 between the same parties;
Considering the Cooperation Convention signed in Nouméa on 25 February 2002 between the Government of the French Republic, the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu and New Caledonia;
Considering the Convention on Cooperation between New Caledonia and Vanuatu, signed in Paris on 26 June 2006, between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu;
Considering the 2010-2014 Cooperation Convention between New Caledonia and Vanuatu, signed on 16 February 2010 between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu;
Recognizing the willingness of New Caledonia to pursue a proactive policy of regional integration and cooperation, with the support of the Government of the French Republic and in accordance with its international commitments;
Recalling the special links that unite New Caledonia and Vanuatu as a result of history, geography and culture;
Recalling the mutual interest of Parties in establishing mutually beneficial cooperation projects and partnership, with the aim of strengthening historical, geographic and cultural ties between New Caledonia and Vanuatu;
The following agreed:
Article 1
Field of cooperation
The Parties agree to deepen their cooperation relationships with all areas of mutual interest.
Parties undertake to continue cooperation and ensure that the projects under this Convention reflect the priority areas contained in the current Government of Vanuatu's Priority Actions (PAAs), with a focus on its ongoing Quadriennal Plan (PLAS).
The Parties recognize the priority of the following sectors, among which three sectors each year (including the education and la Francophonie sector, the priority of the Government of Nicaragua) are assigned by the joint commission in year n-1 for the year n.
sustainable economic development including agriculture, including private sector support;
- the education, the Francophonie, the training and professional integration of young people;
- research and technology transfer;
- youth, culture;
- health;
- good governance.
The parties shall, to the extent of their respective means, endeavour to implement and achieve the joint approved projects.
Article 2
Joint Commission
It is renewed a joint commission of cooperation, co-chaired, for the French Party, by the President of the Government of New Caledonia or his representative, and, for the Ni-vanuatu Party, by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu or his representative.
It is composed of representatives of each Party:
- For the French Party, representatives of the Government of New Caledonia, the Office of the High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia, the French Embassy in Vanuatu and the Permanent Secretariat for the Pacific.
- For the Ni-vanuatu Party, representatives to the joint commission will be appointed by the Prime Minister.
- As necessary, Parties may invite meetings of the joint committee of representatives outside the administration as experts.
The secretariat and related costs are provided alternatively by the Government of New Caledonia and the Government of Vanuatu.
The joint commission meets once a year, to the extent possible, alternately in New Caledonia and Vanuatu, on a date set by mutual agreement. It is responsible for assessing the implementation of this Convention and for approving an annual programme of cooperation. The decisions of the joint commission are mutually agreed.
The Joint Commission may meet at the request of one of the Parties on a specific agenda, jointly approved in advance.
Article 3
Technical Committee
The Technical Committee is responsible for the preparation of the Joint Commission and for the effective implementation of projects approved by the Joint Commission. The technical committee is co-chaired, for the French Party, by a representative of the Government of New Caledonia and, for the Ni-vanuatu Party, by a representative of the Government of Vanuatu.
The Committee is composed of representatives of the Government of the French Republic (High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia, Embassy of France to the Republic of Vanuatu and Permanent Secretariat for the Pacific), the Government of New Caledonia and representatives appointed by the Government of Vanuatu (Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Ministry in charge of Foreign Affairs and Coordination Unit of Assistance and Negotiation - UNAC).
The technical committee meets alternately in New Caledonia and Vanuatu, following the analysis of applications received as part of the public call for projects referred to in Article 4, paragraph 3 of this Convention. It reports to the joint project implementation commission. It may recommend to the joint commission to approve new projects under the annual cooperation programme.
The Technical Committee may meet at the request of one of the Parties on a specific agenda approved jointly in advance.
Article 4
Method of implementation
For the French Party, the French Embassy to the Republic of Vanuatu and the Service for Regional Cooperation and External Relations of the Government of New Caledonia ensure the implementation of this Convention.
For the Ni-vanuatu Party, UNAC ensures the implementation of this Convention.
In order to prepare the meetings of the joint commission, a public call for projects is launched simultaneously in New Caledonia and Vanuatu by the French Embassy to the Republic of Vanuatu, the Regional Cooperation and External Relations Branch of the Government of New Caledonia and the UNAC that receive the files, verify their admissibility before conducting their evaluation.
Following this evaluation, the Technical Committee meets.
The Joint Commission Secretariat shall present to the Technical Committee the findings of the evaluation on the projects. The committee in debate; at the end of the debate, the secretariat of the joint commission lists the projects, including the advice of the technical committee, and forwards it to the members of the joint committee.
At its meetings, the joint commission decides on the projects.
Parties shall sign a statement of conclusions, formalizing their commitment to projects and the associated budget envelope for the fiscal year. On the basis of the decisions adopted by the joint commission, and of this statement of conclusions, the French Embassy to the Republic of Vanuatu and the Department of Regional Cooperation and External Relations of the Government of New Caledonia are responsible for the implementation of the projects.
Article 5
Decentralized cooperation
In their areas of competence and in accordance with the international commitments of the French Republic, the provinces of New Caledonia may carry out decentralized cooperation with local authorities in Vanuatu, their groupings or public institutions, consistent with the actions undertaken under this Convention.
Article 6
Financing
The financing of the cooperation under this Convention shall be determined by the contributing entities of each Party prior to the annual meeting of the joint commission. It is based on the credits each party has annually for such cooperation.
A substantial part of these credits is devoted to microprojects. These projects aim to promote the creation of activities to improve the living conditions of rural and urban communities.
Article 7
Settlement of disputes
The parties shall resolve any dispute that may arise in the context of the interpretation or implementation of this Convention by negotiation.
Article 8
Duration of application
This Convention shall enter into force on the date of signature and shall be concluded for a period of four (4) years.
The projects already implemented under the Convention signed in Nouméa on 16 February 2010 between the two Parties are now governed by the terms and conditions set out in this Convention.
The parties may agree to extend this Agreement by means of an exchange of letters for a further period of four (4) years.
This Convention may be denounced at any time by one of the two Parties by written notification sent by diplomatic means, with a notice of six (6) months.
Except as previously agreed by the Parties, denunciation shall not affect the validity and duration of projects under this Convention until their completion.
Done at Nouméa on 23 February 2015 in two French and English copies, both texts being equally authentic.
For the Government of the French Republic: Ms. Cynthia Ligeard
President of the Government of New Caledonia
For the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu: Mr. Sato Kilman
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In the presence of Mr. Vincent Bouvier
High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia
In the presence of Mr. Alain Du Boispean
Ambassador of France to Vanuatu
Done on June 25, 2015.
François Hollande
By the President of the Republic:
The Prime Minister,
Manuel Valls
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development,
Laurent Fabius
