The external frontiers of the European Union (EU) are gradually expanding in the Pacific. This seminar will explore some key aspects of the 'Europeanisation' of the three French Pacific territories Wallis & Futuna, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia, and the extent to which these former colonies are legally, economically and politically in the EU.

Dr Karis Muller will consider the renaissance of the idea of ‘Europe Overseas’, the demands to reduce discrepancies between the treatment of the French Pacific territories and other overseas possessions, the debate about the use of the Euro, and attempts to increase the participation of French Pacific citizens in European Parliamentary elections and referenda. From an economic perspective, the territories’ deepening ties to the EU give them a new and prestigious role as Pacific outposts of Europe Overseas. As such they redistribute French and EU funds for environmental and other projects in surrounding microstates. These many factors inform the process by which local nationalism is contained and refigured as compatible with, and even dependent upon, Europeanisation.

Dr Karis Muller is an Associate of the ANU Centre for European Studies, and has taught European Studies and French language and politics at ANU. Her wide ranging research includes work on the periphery of the European Union,(e.g. Gibraltar, the Pacific, European integration and the colonies,) the Myth of Eurafrica, and African monetary integration. Dr Muller is an Emeritus member of the Research School of Humanities and the Arts in the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences.