Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly established as PIPG transitions at Natadola Conference
The 5th Pacific Islands Parliaments Group Conference in Natadola reached a historic milestone with the formal establishment of the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (PIPA), the election of its first Executive Board, and the adoption of the 2025 Natadola Declaration. Delegates from 15 Pacific parliaments and assemblies witnessed the signing of PIPA statutes, marking the Assembly’s registration as a regional inter-parliamentary body under French Polynesian law.
Executive Board election results were announced with the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua, unanimously elected as Chairperson of the PIPA Executive Board. Members of the Working Group, including the Speakers of Parliament from Fiji, Solomon Islands, French Polynesia, and Palau, were also chosen to serve on the Board. Lord Fakafanua called the moment historic, noting that the constitutive documents, rules, and procedures have been approved and that PIPA will seek partnerships with inter-parliamentary and regional bodies to advance shared goals.
Key outcomes from the conference include:
– Official signing ceremony: The statutes were formally signed, establishing PIPA as a regional association of Pacific parliaments and legislative assemblies, with ambitions to evolve into a treaty-based organization embedded in the regional architecture.
– Executive Board: The first members—Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Palau, and French Polynesia—reflect inclusive governance and regional balance.
– 2025 Natadola Declaration: Delegates adopted the declaration, confirming the transition from PIPG to PIPA and ensuring continuity and institutional strengthening of Pacific parliamentary cooperation.
The assembly also confirmed that the Assembly of French Polynesia will host the first official PIPA Assembly in 2026, signaling a continued, concrete step in regional governance. The conference underscored that PIPA represents a natural evolution of Pacific governance, with a focus on coordinated action on climate, the blue economy, regional security, and democratic legitimacy for the region’s parliaments.
Context and implications
– PIPA builds on a broader track record of regional cooperation, including prior initiatives such as the Ngibtal Declaration on Human Security in the Pacific Islands, which has guided shared commitments to security and well-being across the Blue Pacific.
– The momentum from Natadola aligns with ongoing regional planning, including Fiji’s hosting of the 2025 PIPG Conference, and reinforces the Blue Pacific identity as a framework for resilience, solidarity, and sustainable development.
– Looking ahead, PIPA could enhance the Pacific’s bargaining power and engagement with global bodies such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, while keeping regional priorities at the forefront of policy dialogue. If sustained, the assembly could provide a coordinated platform for climate action, blue economy initiatives, and regional security.
What readers can watch for next
– The 2026 inaugural PIPA Assembly in French Polynesia, which will translate the nascent framework into a formal gathering with a continuing work program.
– Fiji’s 2025 PIPG Conference, which will help sustain momentum and broaden participation across Pacific parliaments.
– Ongoing implementation of Natadola Declaration commitments and any treaty-based steps that may follow PIPA’s evolution.
Summary
The Natadola conference marks a significant milestone in Pacific governance, turning a cooperative forum into a formal inter-parliamentary assembly with an inaugural executive board and a clear path toward treaty-based regional collaboration. With a Blue Pacific-centric outlook, PIPA is positioned to strengthen climate action, regional resilience, economic diversification, and collective advocacy on the world stage, while reinforcing unity among Pacific parliaments.
Additional notes
– The establishment of PIPA is intended to complement existing regional mechanisms and could enable more structured monitoring of commitments and more formal coordination of policy priorities across the Blue Pacific.
– The move carries an aspirational but carefully grounded potential to boost regional influence in international forums, provided ongoing political will, inclusive participation, and sustained funding accompany the formal framework.
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