Secretary-General welcomes new EU funding programme

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has welcomed the European Union’s (EU) new regional funding programme for the Caribbean of €346 million. The signing of the Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP), financed by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), took place at the Caribbean Forum of Africa Caribbean Pacific States (CARIFORUM) EU High Level Meeting in Brussels, Belgium.
Heads of State and Government of CARIFORUM Member States, the President of the EU Council and the EU High Representative participated in the Meeting.

Ambassador LaRocque, in his capacity as the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Forum of Africa Caribbean Pacific States (CARIFORUM), and Her Excellency Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy signed the Programme on Thursday 11 June. The funds are to finance Caribbean regional programmes during the period ending 2020 and represent a significant increase over those available in the previous financing cycle.

 “These funds are earmarked for areas which we in the Region see as priorities for our development,” the Secretary-General said. He thanked the EU for its continuing commitment to partnering with the Region.
The funds will cover support for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), CARICOM, CARIFORUM and the wider Caribbean including co-operation with the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) and the French Departements Outre Mer (DOM).

Climate Change, Crime and Security and Economic Co-operation and Integration are the broad areas under which the Funds are spread. They will allow for strategic interventions in the strengthening of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the Economic Union of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as well as capacity building in the institutions which are focused on Climate Change and Crime and Security.

Ambassador LaRocque identified support for the implementation of specific areas under the CARICOM Five Year Strategic Plan, capacity development for effective and efficient response to natural disasters at national and regional levels, support for actions to promote women and children security and safety and promotion of measures to optimise use of Renewable Energy resources as examples of priority areas for use of the funds.