The Kingdom of Tonga is a Pacific island country, an archipelago of more than 170 islands with a population of around 100,000. A centre of Polynesian culture, Tongans are proud of having kept their independence during the colonial period. Traditional culture is still important while society is highly stratified and run as a monarchy. Around half the population lives abroad, mostly in diasporas in New Zealand, Australia and the US.

Tonga's economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, a formal sector controlled by the aristocracy, and a small business sector dominated by Chinese immigrants. Remittances from Tongans living and working overseas play an important role, while tourism, fishing and forestry are being developed. Tonga has good human development indicators, with life expectancy above 72 years and near universal adult literacy, and one of the highest living standards in the Pacific region.

Key issues in EU-Tonga relations

The EU has been a longstanding partner in Tonga's development. EU cooperation has traditionally concentrated on the Vava'u island group, with a shift in focus from infrastructure to education, health and sanitation.

As part of the strengthened EU-Pacific Partnership, the EU has since 2006 been aiming to increase political dialogue and provide more focused development cooperation, coupled with more efficient aid delivery, with a central theme of the sustainable management of natural resources.

The latest EU development cycle (2008-13) allocates a budget of € 6.8 M to Tonga. The focus is on the energy sector (€ 5 M), with the aim being to develop access and increase the use of affordable renewable energy, as well as improving the overall energy policy.

Progress in political and economic reform is extremely important. Following social tensions, the government has committed itself to democratic reform by 2010. The EU has set aside a budget of € 900,000 for various actions, including support for good governance and democratisation, and institutional support for non-state actors.

The EU is supporting Tonga in its efforts at regional integration. They are negotiating an Economic Partnership Agreement jointly with other Pacific island nations. Areas of interest for Tonga in any such agreement are fisheries, services and tourism.