NEW YORK, USA – September 25, 2025 — H.E. President Hilda C. Heine joined Pacific leaders and European Union officials at the European Union–Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting, held at the EU Mission to the United Nations in New York on the margins of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.
The meeting provided an important platform for dialogue on strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Pacific Island countries in addressing shared challenges. Discussions focused on the shifting global landscape, sustainable development, human rights, and the urgent need to respond to the climate crisis.
In her intervention, President Heine underscored the vulnerability of Pacific Island nations to climate change and other global challenges, while reaffirming their strong democratic values and commitment to human rights. She highlighted the importance of deeper collaboration with the European Union, noting that the Pacific requires steadfast partnerships to build resilience across social, economic, and environmental sectors. President Heine also emphasized that climate change remains the Pacific’s foremost security threat and urged for enhanced ambition from all partners, including the European Union, to align with the urgency of the crisis. She further stressed the importance of scaling up climate finance, particularly for adaptation, as a foundation for resilience in island nations.
By participating in the meeting, President Heine reinforced the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ commitment to close partnership with the European Union and Pacific neighbors in advancing peace, security, sustainable development, and climate action on the global stage.
