Mr. Vincent DeVisscher, Head of Delegation of the European Commission
Their Excellencies the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Ambassador of Suriname
Representative of the Government of Guyana
Members of Staff of the Secretariat
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media

There is a sense this morning of déjà vu, perhaps understandably so, for one who has been working on Caribbean/European Community relations for the last 30 odd years. I still remember my first piece of work as Chief and Economic Statistics, in the CARIFTA Secretariat – the predecessor of this CARICOM Secretariat was entitled “Relations with the Enlarged European Economic Community”. That was in 1970. Britain was among three new members getting ready to join the European Community. Since then, as the local saying goes, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, sometimes perhaps even over the bridge.

Today I am wearing the cap of Secretary-General of the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM) as we welcome the Head of the European Union Delegation in Guyana to this signing ceremony.

This event once again emphasises the critical role still being played by the European Union in the continuing development of the Caribbean. In a short while we will sign the Regional Support Strategy Paper and Regional Indicative Programme under the 9^th European Development Fund. The overall aim of the Regional Support Strategy is the beneficial integration of the Caribbean region into the world economy through sustainable economic growth, regional cohesion and stability and continued improvements in living standards.

It is clear that this aim is very much in keeping with regional priorities as support for regional integration will assist in the establishment of a harmonised economic space that will contribute to achieving greater competitiveness. This will in turn make it easier for the Caribbean to engage in a structural transformation and repositioning of its economy, to enter into advantageous international trade negotiations, and ultimately to achieve the central objective of the Cotonou Agreement – that of poverty reduction.

An integrated and mutually-reinforcing process of support to the Intensification of Regional Integration has been selected as the Focal sector of this Strategy.  This is expected to result in an expansion of the regional economic base to increase market opportunities, improve the attractiveness of investments and achieve greater economies of scale. The completion and full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy by 2005 will go a long way towards offsetting the lack of international competitiveness in a number of export sectors and give the region the impetus to ease the constraints facing small economies and markets. It should also be noted here that there is already in place a Free Trade Agreement between CARICOM and the other member of CARIFORUM, the Dominican Republic underlining the intensification of the regional integration process.

Building upon a progressively gradually harmonised economic space, the strengthening of trade-related capacity should enable the Caribbean region to play a full part in and take full advantage of international trade negotiations, which involve the WTO agenda, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union. Further, an enhanced regional economic space  gradually integrated into the world economy should be the basis for an economic repositioning of the Caribbean, enabling the region to seize new and diversified opportunities.

Also included under the support strategy is assistance for the region in fighting  major vulnerabilities that pose serious constraints on regional economic development and political and social stability. Support to drugs control will focus on the development and implementation of regionally rooted strategies on demand and supply reduction. Support to disaster management will centre on  strengthening a comprehensive regional disaster strategy.

This Response Strategy was crafted, based on the input of the Member States through consultations with the Governments and civil society among others. The sum of 57 million Euro has been allocated, I very much hope as a first tranche for the Regional Indicative Programme under the 9^th EDF, as provided for under the Cotonou Agreement, the successor to the Lomé Convention. I do not know if the European Union and the ACP States were thinking of honouring me with a birthday gift, by signing the Cotonou Agreement on my birthday, 23 June. Whether so or not, I wish to thank the European Union for its continuing support of the Region’s developmental priorities and I look forward to us working closely together in monitoring this Programme and in ensuring its successful completion to the benefit of the Region and its people.