opinion

The Caribbean - European economic partnership
by Edwin W. Carrington

The following are remarks delivered by CARICOM Secretary General Carrington at the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement in Bridgetown, Barbados on October 15:

It is my duty as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, (CARIFORUM) to address you on the occasion of this historic ceremony of the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the member states of CARIFORUM and the European Community (EC).

I say historic because this signing marks the beginning of a new era in relations between Europe and the Caribbean countries of the ACP. A generation ago, on 25 February 1975, 46 developing countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific --- the ACP --- entered into the Lome Convention --- a unique and historically unprecedented relationship with the then nine-member European Community. That mutually beneficial relationship included, inter alia, non-reciprocal trade benefits and specified financial and technical developmental assistance for the ACP states.

Following various modifications of that First Lome Convention and of its successor the Cotonou Agreement over some quarter of a century, we today sign --- what can probably be called the Barbados Agreement, the result of some near four years of negotiation which commenced on the 16th April 2004 in Kingston, Jamaica.

This agreement has moved our countries into a reciprocal trade relationship covering --- among other things --- goods and services, with unspecified financial and technical developmental assistance.

It is undoubtedly a most challenging agreement. It seeks to recognize the new world trade and economic environment including increasing trade liberalization, compatibility with World Trade Organization rules, as well as the changing circumstances relating to co-operation between states, especially between developed and developing states.

Mr. Chairman, we must all be also acutely aware of the fact that this agreement is being signed at the very time of a major crisis in the global financial sector which is severely adversely affecting the global economy and which would undoubtedly have a negative impact on the CARIFORUM states.

What this new Economic Partnership Agreement and its form of partnership now demands of us --- CARIFORUM and EC --- more than ever, is prudent and effective implementation by all parties.

First of all our EC partners must ensure the efficient and timely discharge of the obligations they have undertaken, to assist all CARIFORUM states in meeting the challenges posed by the new relationship.

In this regard, the early determination and provision of an equitable share of the Aid for Trade resources will be crucial. Equally important is the commitment of the EC to consider modification to the agreement as necessary following our joint review taking into account our shared experience in implementation.

On the part of the CARIFORUM countries, it is critical that they share a common perspective that more --- not less integration and co-operation, in content and in process, is indispensable. Vital in that context is the need for the region to recognise that there must be a societal sea change in attitude and work ethic leading to a collective effort involving public and private sectors, labor and civil society, all aimed at enhancing our productivity and competitiveness.

This is absolutely necessary if the region is to be able to compete effectively in the markets of the EC and even in our own regional markets. Moreover, this is the only way that we can ensure that our people benefit from the new global trading arrangements.

Mr. Chairman, I therefore call for the launch of a region-wide drive to this end in all our countries, at all levels, starting from our schools and including all sectors of our society. Who knows, this approach to the implementation of the EPA may yet provide the stimulus and the foundation for the region’s effective insertion into the global economy.

This is important particularly given the tumultuous times now being experienced in that global economy. Drastic situations require drastic measures as we have seen in the world’s largest economies where significant government intervention has taken place in an attempt to stabilize not just the financial sector but the global economy.

Ladies and gentlemen, in all this let us not forget that this region has shown that it can compete and be successful on the global scene --- after all we have the recent example of the Beijing Olympics! How is such achievement accomplished? It is no secret it calls for focus, commitment, dedication, hard work, and concerted action, among all our countries including our ACP partners. There is too much at stake for us to neglect those well-known tenets at this time.

Mr. Chairman, honorable ministers, ladies and gentlemen, when all is said and done despite its many challenges the implementation of this Economic Partnership Agreement must be made to redound to the benefit of this region and its peoples to help bring about the viable and prosperous society we all so desire.

In closing, I wish to thank for their contribution all those, including the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, who were involved in what has been a complex and no doubt difficult negotiation leading to this Economic Partnership Agreement. Finally, I also wish to thank the government and people of Barbados for offering their fulsome facilities for hosting this historic signing ceremony and for their customary generous hospitality.

I thank you.