11 EU-Caribbean Relations
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6129/06
+ ADD 1
COM(06) 86
| Commission Communication: An EU-Caribbean Partnership for Growth, Stability and Development (with Annexes and Addendum)
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| Legal base | — |
| Department | International Development
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| Basis of consideration | Letter of 11 June 2006
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 34-xxiii (2005-06), para 14 (29 March 2006).
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| Discussed in Council | 10-11 April 2006 General Affairs and External Relations Council
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared (decision reported 29 March)
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Background
11.1 Having reviewed Europe's strong historic and actual ties
with the Caribbean and the challenges it faces, the Commission
described it as "a region at the crossroads", in which
leadership and local responsibility will be crucial. There was
also the additional challenge of building a better relationship
with the EU:
"Whereas the EU was seen as the answer to the problems
of the Caribbean ten years ago, today there is a perception that
the EU-Caribbean relationship is strained, a situation also affected
by unavoidable changes in preferential trading arrangements and
difficulties, both in the delivery and absorption, aspects of
development co-operation. "
The Commission Communication
11.2 Against this background, the Communication (supported by
detailed annexes and a Commission Staff Working Document) set
out "a shared vision" for future EU policy towards the
Caribbean, in which the "ultimate aim of the EU is to assist
the Caribbean to positively respond to the challenges in the region".
A renewed and enhanced partnership at a political, economic and
developmental level would be grouped around three dimensions:
- shaping a political partnership based on shared values;
- addressing socio-economic and environmental opportunities
and vulnerabilities, including the promotion of trade; and
- promoting social cohesion and combating poverty.
11.3 The EU would focus its relations with CARIFORUM[22]
on issues of mutual importance including the consolidation of
democracy, human rights, gender equality, social cohesion and
decent work opportunities, security, stability, conflict prevention,
migration, drugs and regional integration. The bi-annual EU-LAC
Summit, which was to take place in Vienna on 11-12 May 2006, was
seen as a major opportunity for EU-Caribbean political dialogue
at the highest level, and was to be reinforced by the introduction
at the Summit of an EU-Caribbean Troika meeting and, beyond, in
enhanced co-operation in international fora, particularly in addressing
common security threats (terrorism, non-proliferation of Weapons
of Mass Destruction, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons).
11.4 When we considered the Commission on 29 March,[23]
we noted that we were also considering the EU's new "Aid
Effectiveness Package", and that the approach proposed in
this Communication was consistent with it, and needed to be: our
earlier consideration of the implementation of the Special Framework
of Assistance for Traditional Suppliers of Bananas[24]
had demonstrated how important good development practice would
be to a more productive EU-Caribbean relationship. We noted that
there were also other potential flashpoints, particularly regarding
the ambitions of some CARICOM members to diversify from traditional
commodities into financial services (which in recent times has
been the subject of considerable mutual recrimination) and over
the next stage of the EPA negotiations (which were currently somewhat
overshadowed by delays in making progress in the WTO "Doha
Development Round", suggestions of differences in the Commission
between those responsible for trade and those responsible for
development assistance, and uncertainties over how much funding
would be available under the 2007-13 Financial Perspective for
the transitional process). Above all, we said, the question, as
always with such strategies, concerned how genuine the commitment
was, especially on the European side, and the consequential danger
of further false dawns, disillusionment and recrimination, which
made it all the more important that the new Strategy got off to
the right start, with clear indications in the Conclusions adopted
at the 10-11 April General Affairs and External Relations Council
at which the Communication will be discussed, and then at the
May meeting in Vienna, that all parties were indeed fully committed
to this "shared vision". When we cleared the "companion"
Communication on EU-Latin America relations on 1 March 2006, we
asked the Minister to write to us after the May EU-LAC summit
with the outcome.[25]
We also asked the Secretary of State to do likewise with regard
to the Caribbean dimension. He has now done so.
The Secretary of State's letter
11.5 In his 11 June 2006 letter, Secretary of State
for International Development (Mr Hilary Benn) says:
"We believe that the outcomes of both the
EU-LAC summit and the GAERC demonstrated a high degree of commitment
on the part of Europe and the Caribbean to a new and stronger
development partnership.
"The Council Conclusions from the GAERC
'reaffirmed the ambition of a mutually beneficial partnership
between the European Union and the Caribbean region'. This partnership
is to be based on shared principles including democratic governance,
the rule of law, and universal human rights, as well as work towards
the eradication of poverty and combating global threats to peace,
security and stability.
"The Conclusions recognise the region's
unique identity and the specific challenges faced by the vulnerability
of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). They accept the need
for tailor-made approaches responding to the region's own priorities
for growth, social cohesion, stability, and regional integration.
The Conclusions set the EU-Caribbean partnership in the context
of the wider strategic partnership between the EU and Latin America
and the Caribbean.
"This shared commitment is also reflected
in the EU-LAC Summit communiqué (the Declaration of Vienna,
12 May 2006),[26] and
in the 2nd EU-CARIFORUM (Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean
and Pacific States) Summit joint communiqué (13 May 2006).
The EU-LAC communiqué speaks of expanding and deepening
EU-LAC co-operation and a determination 'to maximise the potential
for joint action between our regions'. Areas for particular focus
include: strengthening multilateral peace-building approaches,
for example continuing support to the UN mission in Haiti; co-operation
in strengthening disaster preparedness and prevention; promoting
energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources; and
working together to achieve an ambitious and balanced outcome
for the Doha Development Round.
"The EU-CARIFORUM communiqué[27]
states that CARIFORUM Heads of State and Government welcome the
EU's reaffirmed commitment to a partnership with the region as
expressed in the Commission Communication and the Council Conclusions.
Examples of commitment to joint action here include the EU's consideration
of support to the structural fund being established to support
regional integration under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy;
the successful conclusion of a development-oriented Economic Partnership
Agreement; and, while programming the 10th European Development
Fund resources, working towards enhancing the impact of EU assistance
to the region.
Conclusion
11.6 The Secretary of State says that he hopes
that this is helpful. It is, and we are grateful. But, as always,
only time will tell if the reality corresponds to the rhetoric,
particularly with regard to the outcome of the Doha Development
Round, the successful conclusion of a development-oriented EPA
and effective support for regional integration under the CARICOM
Single Market and Economy.
22 Caribbean Forum of ACP States: Members are all the
members of CARICOM, except Montserrat, plus the Dominican Republic
and Cuba. Back
23
See headnote. Back
24
HC 38-xi (2004-05), para 8 (15 March 2005). Back
25
HC 34-xx (2005-06), para 16 (1 March 2006). Back
26
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/er/89549.pdf. Back
27
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/er/89554.pdf. Back
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