CARIFORUM tells European Commission 10th EDF inadequate
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Contact: Claudia Monlouis
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 – Members of CARIFORUM have made it clear to the European Commission that the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Indicative Programme, signed between the two entities, is inadequate.
The 10th EDF Programme, they say, is insufficient to meaningfully assist the region in building capacity for the European Partnership Agreement (EPA), while developing cooperation and integration processes.
Saint Lucia's Minister for Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs Tessa Mangal, who recently represented government at the CARIFORUM/EC Dialogue on Regional Integration and Cooperation, endorses this view.
“What was key around the issues discussed, was the level of funding which was presented—65 65 million Euros—which was seen as grossly inadequate for the processing in and of itself , but nonetheless was seen as a stepping stone—a means of actually being able to start the process to attract aid to further enhance our processes in order to be fully prepared.”
In her address to the recent meeting, Minister Mangal noted that while the region appreciated the support provided by the European Union, the issue remains a very sensitive one, especially for more vulnerable CARIFORUM states.
These states, she says, will experience revenue loss arising from implementation of trade liberalization provisions of the European Partnership Agreement. |
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