Leaders representing 16 Caribbean countries met with the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen in Barbados and agreed on main priorities for the cooperation that the EU will dedicate to the Caribbean until 2027.
The EU and Caribbean countries will work together through three partnerships under the Global Gateway, respectively focusing on “Green Deal”, “Economic Resilience and Trade” as well as “Governance, Security and Human Development”.
As part of these partnerships, the ministers also agreed on concrete actions to fight climate change, protect biodiversity, foster digital innovation and mobility of students and university staff.
Chair of CARIFORUM E.P. Chet Greene, minister of foreign affairs of Antigua and Barbuda and Urpilainen officially launched the new partnerships, in the presence of Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley, CARICOM and CARIFORUM Secretary General, Carla Barnett, and Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Ricardo Mourinho. The EU will contribute to the programmes and projects under the partnerships with a total contribution of over 800 million euros until 2027.
“The 3 partnerships launched today roll out the EU’s Global Gateway strategy in the Caribbean. Global Gateway is our offer to partner countries for sustainable and trusted connection,” Urpilainen said.
She said it will help to address the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting competitiveness and security of global supply chains.
“As the Russia’s aggression of Ukraine and the COVID-pandemic have made these challenges even more acute, we want to help our partners in addressing them and tackle inequalities,” Urpilainen said.
At the launch of the new partnerships, Greene expressed deep appreciation on behalf of the governments and people of the region for the significant economic and developmental support provided by the European Union over the years.
He further described the relationship with the EU as mature, with the expectation that the partnership will be further enhanced through effective and efficient coordination among the parties.
Greene welcomed further discussion with the EU under the framework of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe).
“I look forward to greater understanding, flexibility and real cooperation between both sides on the different high priority issues raised. Greene expressed a desire to see that, “the principles of aid effectiveness remain a constant, whatever the aid delivery framework. CARIFORUM expects that given our historical relationship, the parties can continue to find meaningful cooperation and partnership that brings lasting prosperity to all of CARIFORUM, including through the new funding framework under which we will now cooperate,” Greene said.
The Caribbean and the EU leaders reiterated their readiness to step up collaboration to push for a green, inclusive and digital transition including at global level where both partners together can exercise leadership in multilateral fora.
The Caribbean leaders welcomed the extension of the EU Flagship programme on Climate Change in Latin America, EUROCLIMA, to the Caribbean. The programme will support Caribbean partners with 35 million euros to achieve their commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Urpilainen announced a number of new initiatives, such as 5 million euros to foster digital innovation in the Caribbean and its readiness to explore possibilities for an extension of the BELLA optic cable to the region and to support the convergence of the rules and standards in the whole Latin America and Caribbean region.
The Commissioner also highlighted the recent additional allocation of 36.5 million euros to the Caribbean as part of the EU´s global efforts to mitigate the impact of the Russia war of aggression against Ukraine that will support the most vulnerable people to cope with the current food security crisis and related economic shocks.
The leaders also agreed on the importance to engage with youth and to strengthen the mobility between both regions.
Both sides emphasised the mutual commitment to build stronger political, economic and social ties between the Caribbean region and the European Union, and advanced working modalities for coordination to further strengthen development cooperation.
The ministerial meeting contributed to strengthen the EU-LAC partnership more widely. In 2023, an EU-LAC Summit will be organised to bring together the leaders of Europe with those of Latin America and the Caribbean around joint priorities and deliverables.
What exactly is this sum to be spent on ?
The certain PM hate the imperialist but he on the front row when it comes to scrounging for the imperials for hand outs. Yet with all the help he getting, he still can’t manage to Vincy economy. He was probably sleeping during the official activities. Maduro and Noriega must be scratching their heads.
Good fo Ralph go skrunt again