Pacific Union 3576138 220154396 2008-06-18T15:07:37Z Cruvers 81443 Removal of erroneous info re Aust Constitution The '''Pacific Union''' is a proposed political and economic [[intergovernmentalism|intergovernmental]] community suggested in 2003 by a [[committee]] of the [[Australian Senate]]. The committee called for the formation of a Pacific Union composed of the member-states of the [[Pacific Islands Forum]], but with a common charter, institutions and currency. Although the former [[Prime Minister of Australia]], [[John Howard]], spoke of a Pacific Union whilst in power, his government's emphasis was focused on [[bilateral]] relations and agreements with the individual states of the Forum.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} == Existing Integration == There is already a good deal of regional cooperation and integration within the proposed Pacific Union nations. The most prominent example of pre-existing [[Regionalism (politics)|regionalism]] amongst countries of the [[Pacific Ocean]] is the [[Pacific Islands Forum]], an inter-governmental organization which aims to represent the interests of its members and enhance cooperation between them. The Pacific Islands Forum could be seen as a possible precursor organization to a Pacific Union but lacking a common charter, institutions and currency. Even greater economic integration exists between particular states within the region. [[Closer Economic Relations]] (CER) free trade agreement between the governments of New Zealand and [[Australia]] allowing the free trade of most goods and services between the two nations without the hindrance of [[tariff]] barriers or export incentives. The [[Melanesian Spearhead Group]] is a more recent trade treaty governing the four [[Melanesian]] states of [[Vanuatu]], [[Papua New Guinea]], the [[Solomon Islands]] and recently, [[Fiji]]. The nations of [[Nauru]], [[Kiribati]] and [[Tuvalu]] already use the [[Australian dollar]] while the [[Cook Islands]], [[Tokelau]] and [[Niue]] use the [[New Zealand Dollar]] Apart from purely economic cooperation, regional response to crises has also already been somewhat integrated. In October 2000, national leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum signed the [[Biketawa Declaration]] constituting a framework for coordinating response to regional crises leading to New Zealand and Australian military and police forces participating in regional peacekeeping/stabilization operations in [Papua New Guinea (in [[Bougainville Province|Bougainville]]), [[Solomon Islands]] (2003–present), Nauru (2004–present) and [[Tonga]] (2006). == Future Prospects == There has been a call from within both the Australian and New Zealand business communities to extend the Closer Economic Relations (CER) Free Trade Agreement to other Pacific Island nations. Moving towards a single market and allowing the free movement of people and goods. Harmonising both the CER and the [[Pacific Regional Trade Agreement]] (PARTA) is one possibility of moving towards this goal. == See also == *[[Caribbean Community]] *[[Continental union]] **[[African Union]] **[[Asian Union]] **[[Central Asian Union]] **[[European Union]] **[[NAFTA]] **[[Union of South American Nations|South American Union]] **[[Oceania]] **[[Pacific Games]] == External links == * [http://www.forumsec.org/ Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat] * [http://www.pacificplan.org/ The Pacific Plan] === Articles, Editorials, and Reports === * [http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/publication_details.aspx?ContentID=157&pubtype=10 Engaging our neighbours: Towards a new relationship between Australian and the Pacific Islands] * [http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a741497709~db=all Beyond Cooperation: Towards an Oceanic Community] * [http://www.dev-zone.org/downloads/Regional%20Integration%20in%20the%20Pacific%20WPS%2016%20of%202005.pdf Regional Integration in the Pacific] * [http://www.usp.ac.fj/fileadmin/files/Institutes/piasdg/dev_studies/papers/robertson_regionalism_pacific.pdf Regionalism in the Pacific: A New Development Strategy] * [http://www.otago.ac.nz/otagofps/FPS05/fps2004/pdfs/Fry.pdf Whose Oceania? Contending Visions of Community in Pacific Region-Building] * [http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/fadt_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04/png/report/index.htm Australia's Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (2003-08-12): A Pacific Engaged: Australia’s Relations with Papua New Guinea and the Island States of the South–West Pacific] * [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/08/12/922821.htm ABC (2003-08-12): Senate Calls for Pacific Community to Head Off Regional Crises] * [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/12/1060588392171.html The Age (2003-08-13): Call for EU-Style 'Pacific Community'] * [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/08/18/926513.htm ABC (2003-08-18): Australia Floats 'Pacific Union' Idea] * [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/17/1061059717704.html The Age (2003-08-18): Howard Push for Pacific Union] * [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/29/1062050663347.html The Age (2003-08-30): Time to Look at a Pacific Community] * [http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2004/03/01/a-eu-style-club-for-the-pacific Pacific Magazine (2004-03-01): A EU-Style Club For The Pacific?] * [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/05/1078464639849.html The Age (2004-03-06): Bold Plan for Pacific Unity] * [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/05/1081017102111.html The Age (2004-04-06): Pacific Forum Beckons EU-Style Links] * [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/04/06/1081735.htm ABC (2004-04-06): Pacific Plan Expected to Fall Short of Total Union] * [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/06/1081222465725.html The Age (2004-04-07): Pacific Heads Back Region Unity Plan] * [http://peb.anu.edu.au/pdf/PEB20-3%20Sercombe-Peebles-policy.pdf Pacific Economic Bulletin (2005 #3): Towards a Pacific Community] * [http://www.theage.com.au/news/hugh-white/pacific-plan-puts-howard-to-the-test/2005/10/09/1128796408094.html The Age (2005-10-09): Pacific Plan Puts Howard to the Test] * [http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2005/10/17/region-adb-calls-for-pacific-plan-focus-on-governance-and-economic-opportunities Pacific Magazine (2005-10-17): ADB Calls for Pacific Plan Focus On Governance And Economic Opportunities] * [http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_5674.shtml Fiji (2005-11-02): Pacific Leaders Endorse Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation] * [http://eherald.alp.org.au/articles/0506/natp05-01.php Labor eHerald (2006-05-04): A Vision of a Pacific Community] * [http://www.abc.net.au/correspondents/content/2006/s1694008.htm ABC (2006-07-23): Urwin Calls for Pacific Settlement] {{Supranationalism/World government topics}} [[Category:Continental unions]] [[Category:Proposed countries]] [[Category:Supranational unions]]