Region has benefited from EPA

EUROPEAN Union Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ms. Daniela Tramacere, has come out in full support of the CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement saying that it has provided benefits to this region.

Ambassador Tramacere said the EPA offers Barbados and other Caribbean countries substantial market access for regional services.

“The facts are that the EPA provides immediately Duty and Quota free market access into the EU for all Caribbean products (except arms and ammunition),” she stated.

“In addition, the CARIFORUM-EU EPA is also the first trade agreement in which the parties specifically included comprehensive provisions on culture,” said the Ambassador.

The EU official was responding to what she said were some misunderstandings and misconceptions about the agreement, including a recently published article. The EPA was signed in late 2008 by CARIFORUM and EU countries in Barbados.

She remarked that the Protocol on Cultural Cooperation implements the 2005 UNESCO convention on the Protection and Promotion of cultural diversity. Furthermore, it is providing CARIFORUM artists and other culture-related services suppliers with better conditions for the temporary movement of persons, for co-production market access, and other aspects, which have been a high priority in particular for CARIFORUM creative industry practitioners.

According to her, “The role that this Protocol can play in stimulating opportunities for the cultural and creative sector of the CARIFORUM region, within the EU market, cannot be overemphasised.”

The Ambassador made the point that the EPA aims to achieve sustainable development by establishing a trade partnership which promotes regional integration of CARICOM countries into the world economy, along with capacity building measures and supports increased investment.

This, she explained, is a new kind of trade agreement, as sustainable development is the presiding principle governing the whole agreement.

“Sustainable development is backed by development cooperation, allowing for technical and financial support to achieve the goals of the agreement,” she pointed out.

However, Ms. Tramacere acknowledged that this does not mean the EPA is delivering to its full potential since CARIFORUM states, despite the opportunities, have not yet been able to translate market access for goods and services into a meaningful presence in the EU market.

She referred to a number of operational and capacity constraints on the side Caribbean economies, making it difficult to meet certain European technical and sanitary requirements and standards.

The EU has promised to continue working with the regional countries in helping to overcome the challenges.