Water is a central element of the French Polynesian natural landscape - essential for sustaining daily life, agriculture, and food production, as well as marine and coastal ecosystems that many livelihoods depend on. It is vital for maintaining cultural practices and traditions linked to the sea and water.
Water is a high priority in EU investments, in line with the Global Gateway strategy, with programmes addressing the areas of water preservation and management, protection of aquatic environments and securing renewable energy and self-sufficiency.
Cultural, educational, and vocational exchange benefit people in French Polynesia and across the European Union by enhancing skills, fostering international collaboration, and promoting cultural understanding. These exchanges provide opportunities for learning and personal development, and strengthen intercultural connections across the Pacific Ocean.
EU investment in French Polynesia reflects a joint commitment to ensuring a sustainable and successful future. Together, we are partners in change.
Discover the many sides of the partnership through our projects.
Pacific Territories Regional Project for Sustainable Ecosystem Management (PROTEGE)
PROTEGE aims to enhance environmental sustainability and resilience in Pacific territories through the sustainable management of natural resources in areas like agriculture, forestry, fisheries, water, and invasive species control.
In French Polynesia, PROTEGE is implementing the sustainable management of water across the French Polynesian islands. The project works towards protecting and restoring aquatic environments by implementing effective water management strategies and reducing nonpoint sources of pollution. By collaborating with local authorities, PROTEGE aims to prevent flooding, develop water safety plans, and monitor water quality and availability. The project helps coordinate water resource management efforts with the OCTs and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
IANOS
Project IANOS is dedicated to the decarbonisation of European islands by advancing sustainable energy production technologies. In Bora Bora, the project focuses on enhancing local energy distribution and services, promoting the adoption of electric mobility, and converting waste products into energy. Additionally, it implements measures to decarbonise the gas grid and heating network, while also working to raise community awareness about sustainable energy practices. Collectively, these efforts are aimed at fostering a more sustainable energy future for Bora Bora.
Sea Water Air Conditioning of the Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française
In a pioneering move towards sustainable energy and self-sufficiency, the Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française (CHPF) in Tahiti is harnessing Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC) infrastructure to meet a significant portion of its electricity needs. Officially inaugurated in 2022, this SWAC system supports CHPF’s ambitious goal of increasing its renewable energy usage from 50% in 2020 to 100% by 2030. By replacing traditional air conditioning methods, the technology not only substantially reduces electricity costs but also lowers the hospital’s carbon footprint. The system is expected to save up to 11 GWh of electricity annually, reflecting CHPF’s dedication to advancing sustainable healthcare practices.
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ has provided students from the Lycée Hôtelier de Tahiti and other French Polynesian institutions with enriching international exchange opportunities. Through this programme, students have gained valuable skills and experiences, which have significantly contributed to the local educational and professional landscape. By overcoming geographical remoteness, Erasmus+ offers young people the chance to explore Europe and beyond, promoting both personal growth and professional development.
French Polynesia is an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT) in the South Pacific, with around 279,000 inhabitants (2022) spread over 76 of the 118 islands of its 5 archipelagos. Its maritime domain encompasses 5.5 million km², or 20% of the EU's Exclusive Economic Zone. Key sectors include tourism, pearl farming, fishing, with growth in technology, renewable energy, and self-sufficiency. Its GDP per capita is €16,760 (2022).
Our priorities
The current framework for EU cooperation with the Pacific OCTs is set out in the Overseas Association Decision including Greenland (DAOG) adopted on 5 October 2021, which aims to support the territories in their efforts to promote sustainable development.
French Polynesia is an island economy, endowed with an exceptional but fragile biodiversity.
Thus, the water policy adopted in June 2021 establishes an integrated management of water resources that fully includes the issue of climate change and natural hazards.
The water and sanitation sector is essential for the sustainable development of French Polynesia and is being structured at various speeds. The need to ensure a sufficient and high-quality water supply for all uses without compromising the availability of water for future generations is a priority set out in the Territory's sectoral water policy (PSE), the first framework for the management of water and aquatic environments.
Its development has been supported by the EU in the past. French Polynesia has decided to continue the efforts made during previous programmes and to mobilise the territorial allocation to support the water sector.
Our impact
The EU has financed, through various programmes, the Territory's wastewater infrastructure (€55.2 million). Polynesia has prioritised dense, touristic areas, followed by the agglomeration of Papeete. The importance of the environment and access to drinking water was emphasised. In the previous European Development Fund framework, despite Covid-19, tourism has prospered: a 24% increase in visitors between 2016-2019, increasing tourism spending (+34%) and boosting employment in the sector (+11%).
Our programmes
- 2014-2020: a budget support programme targeting the tourism sector, a major sector in French Polynesia, (€30.6 million). The two main objectives pursued were (i) the promotion of sustainable, inclusive and smart growth, rich in direct and indirect employment; and (ii) improving the efficiency and governance of the tourism sector.
- The DAOG 2021-2027 multi-year programme for French Polynesia includes new support for sustainable water management in the Territory. This new cooperation programme (€31.1 million) supports the country's first sectoral water policy. The specific objectives are to increase the population's access to public water and sanitation services, to improve the sustainable management of water resources in a context of climate change and to adapt the governance of the sector to ensure the smooth running of the activities of this policy, making it consistent with other local public policies.
- Regional programmes:
- 'Pacific Regional Territories for Sustainable Ecosystem Management (PROTEGE)' promotes sustainable and climate-resilient economic development by relying on biodiversity and renewable natural resources. It is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in the 3 French OCTs of the Pacific (New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis & Futuna), as well as in the former British OCT of Pitcairn. PROTEGE is financed to the tune of €36 million and is co-financed by the 3 French territories with €128,000. The project, which started in 2018, will be completed by the end of September 2024.
- The thematic programme ‘BEST 2.0 & 2.0+’ aims at the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the OCTs; this programme is part of the B4Life initiative. Under the 2020 call for projects of the ‘BEST 2.0+’ phase, 4 projects, mainly focused on the preservation, restoration and enhancement of fragile ecosystems, have been selected for French Polynesia.
- The ‘Green Overseas – GO’ programme (€17.8 million) covers all OCTs and aims to accelerate the energy transition and increase the resilience of beneficiary countries and territories to climate change.
- The Regional Programme for the Pacific OCTs 2021-2027 aims to contribute to the greening and blueing of food systems in the 3 territories. This programme is being developed for a scheduled start in 2025.
- The DAOG's intra-regional envelope for the 2021-2027 programming allocates a budget of €1.15 million per OCT. Intra-regional cooperation fosters closer collaboration, with neighbouring countries, outermost regions, and regional organisations, through pilot actions.
All OCTs are also eligible for other EU funding programmes, such as TAIEX/twinning, InvestEU, LIFE, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, COSME, Creative Europe, Digital Europe, EU4Health, etc. They can also benefit from the thematic strand and rapid reaction actions of the European Union's Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and the Humanitarian Aid Instrument (ECHO).