CARIFORUM-European Union Negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement Launched

CARIFORUM-EU negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) were officially launched in Kingston, Jamaica, April 16, 2004.  The launch was hosted by the Government of Jamaica.

The CARIFORUM-EU EPA, which will be the outcome of negotiations launched yesterday - set to come to a close December 2007 - was described by the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, as blending "elements of continuity and elements of change". 

Prime Minister Patterson characterized the launch as representing the enhancement of the two region's "longstanding friendship, political cooperation, shared history and economic partnership". He concluded, "this renewal is intended to consolidate an enduring economic relationship as we embark on a new dimension of our interaction, embracing the full range of economic activities and trans-border transactions".  Prime Minister Patterson made these comments in a keynote speech delivered at the opening ceremony to mark the launch, the morning of April 16.

H.E. Dr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of CARIFORUM, chaired the proceedings.  Also speaking at the ceremony were: Dame Billie Miller, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Barbados, and Lead CARICOM Ministerial Spokesperson on EPAs; European Commissioners for Trade and Development, Pascal Lamy and Poul Neilson, respectively; and, H.E. Jean-Robert Goulongana, Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States. Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, also joined the distinguished speakers at the head table.  In attendance at the launch ceremonies were Ministers, Ambassadors, diplomats and officials from the CARIFORUM countries.  Members of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as representatives of several regional and international organizations, and non-state actors were also present.  Ambassador Bernal headed the RNM team to the event, which included the RNM's Senior Director, Mr. Henry Gill.

Subsequent speeches brought into context perspectives of the CARIFORUM countries, the EU and the ACP Group, respectively.

Dame Billie stressed that the region was committed to crafting an EPA appropriate to small developing economies.  In reference to troubled WTO and Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations, she noted that CARIFORUM EPA negotiations "are being launched in circumstances that are less than propitious".  Adding that this is "testimony to our resolve to strengthen and deepen our relationship....today we are giving concrete expression to forging a framework which will establish an interface of a different character".  The region's chief EPA spokesperson was emphatic that "such an architecture must promote the reduction of vulnerability while facilitating sustainable development. It must provide enhanced structural transformation of our economies; and international competitiveness and export diversification".

Secretary-General Carrington's remarks reflected on the nostalgia of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA launch.  In taking stock of the Caribbean's long-standing relationship with Europe, he concluded it was "a most enduring one".  He characterized April 16 as an "historic day".  "The enhancement of the quality of life of our peoples must remain a fundamental objective of the EPA. How it does this will depend on the wisdom of our joint initiative today, and the spirit of the negotiations to come", he said. 

Commissioner Neilson described the inauguration of this new phase of negotiations as being guided by the central objectives of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.  "The special value of EPAs are that they are based on a well established development partnership", he said.  The Commissioner underscored the importance of the link between EU development financing and EPAs. 

Commissioner Lamy sought to highlight the role of EPA negotiations in building on regional integration processes, within the ACP, with a view to "locking in the benefits of those initiatives".  He touted EPAs as "underwriting" the Caribbean's efforts at crafting a stable and reliable environment for sustainable development and trade.  Lamy acknowledged that this has to be accomplished taking into account the two different levels of development and size, regarding Europe and the Caribbean.  "We accept asymmetrical liberalization, specifically differences in product coverage and phasing", he said. 

In commenting on the CARIFORUM EPA launch, Secretary-General Goulongana took stock of the ACP regions that have thus far undertaken EPA negotiations with the EU, and the regions yet to do so.  He highlighted the importance of unity and solidarity across the ACP regions, even as respective regional groupings forge ahead with EPA negotiations.

The formal CARIFORUM EPA launch commencement proceedings having been adjourned, the First Joint EPA Ministerial Negotiating Meeting was convened the same day.  The hour-long session began at mid-day.  The CARIFORUM Ministerial team, flanked by Senior Officials, was led by Dame Billie.  Commissioner Lamy headed the EU team in the 'closed-door' interchange.  Later that afternoon, following a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Patterson for the CARIFORUM Ministerial and EU teams, a joint press conference was convened.  Dame Billie and Pascal Lamy reported on elements of deliberations between the two sides, in their first interface subsequent to the launch.  Events marking the CARIFORUM EPA launch were then brought to a close.  

In remarks to members of the press, Ambassador Bernal noted that the formal launch of negotiations between CARIFORUM and the EU marked a watershed in what has been an enduring model of North-South relations.  "The outcome of these negotiations will contribute significantly to mediating the region's encounter with globalization", he said.

CARIFORUM Negotiating Structure/Schedule Endorsed  

At a Special Meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on External Economic Negotiations, also held in Kingston, April 15, CARIFORUM Trade Ministers endorsed the proposal that negotiations for a CARIFORUM-EU EPA will take place at three tiers; namely, Ministerial, Principal Negotiator and subject-specific negotiators. CARIFORUM has appointed Senior Minister Dame Billie Miller of Barbados as its Lead Ministerial Spokesperson. A Ministerial Troika comprising representatives from the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia and Belize will assist the Lead Ministerial Spokesperson in dispensing her duties. The Director-General of the RNM has been appointed CARIFORUM Principal Negotiator.  At the technical level, negotiations will be conducted by members of the EPA College of Negotiators. All elements of the negotiating structure shall be open to all CARIFORUM Member States. The EC will be represented by the Commissioner for Trade, at Ministerial level, and a Senior Official of Directorate General (DG) Trade at the level of Principal Negotiator. Preparations at technical level will be co-ordinated by DG Trade, with other DGs participating as appropriate.

Both parties will establish a RPTF in order to cement the strategic link between EPA negotiations and development co-operation. The creation of such a body is underpinned by the provisions of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement on the complementary of trade and economic co-operation and development support.

The CARIFORUM core membership of the RPTF will comprise representatives of regional and national authorising officers, regional secretariats, universities and institutions and Non-State Actors, and a CARIFORUM Member of the ACP Development Finance Committee. EC membership on the RPTF will include officials from DG Trade, DG Development, AIDCO and an EU Delegation based in the Caribbean.

In remarks to members of the press, April 16, the RNM Director-General, Ambassador Dr.  Richard Bernal, said he was pleased with the consensus that had emerged amongst CARIFORUM Member States regarding the negotiating structures and the plan/schedule for EPA negotiations.  In reference to the Ministerial-level Special Meeting of COTED, April 15, he said "Member States have endorsed both the structures and the plan/schedule in regards to the region's negotiation of an EPA with the EU".  Dr. Bernal welcomed the support for the College; he added, "the College of Negotiators, which will be tasked with spearheading the region's negotiating efforts, has been agreed to - both at a conceptual and operational level".  Reflecting on the period of consultation amongst Member States leading up to consensus on the College and related negotiating architecture, the RNM head said, "the region's Senior Officials and Trade Ministers must be credited for their commitment to and foresight in putting into place the most appropriate model for coordinating and providing technical oversight of very complex and multi-faceted issues to be negotiated".