LaRocque lauds EU

SECRETARY GENERAL of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, has expressed deep appreciation to the European Union for its continuous support to the region, particularly during a time when some of its own members have been financially and economically challenged.

Making his remarks last week Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 11th European Development Fund Programming Seminar, LaRoque suggested that such a continuing helping hand was clear evidence of the strength and durability of the region’s relationship with the EU.

“The CARIFORUM Region and the European Union share a long political and economic history. Our relationship is not stagnant. While it evolves, grows, changes and reacts to developing circumstances, it nevertheless is underpinned by certain constants such as a commitment to global peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights,” the Secretary-general had said.

Noting that CARI-FORUM received the largest amount of grant funding from the EU under several agreements reached through political and policy dialogue, he acknowledged how the resources provided had contributed immensely to national and regional development.

Of those agreements he highlighted were the ACP/EU Cotonou Agreement, the CARIFORUM-EU Joint Strategy and the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Areas targeted for development under those agreements, as was mentioned by LaRoque during his remarks, were Effective EPA Implementation, Development of enterprise through private sector development, Energy and Food Security.