Europe’s changing relationship with the Caribbean

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Last week, St Lucia's Prime Minister, Kenny Anthony, issued a warning about Europe's future relationship with the Caribbean. Speaking in his capacity as outgoing chair of CARICOM, he suggested the possibility of a reassessment as a result of the EU's changing development policy towards middle-ranking economies. Speaking to CARICOM Heads of Government in Haiti, Dr. Anthony suggested that such changes may lead to Europe, as well as CARICOM, having to determine not just the diplomatic, but also the political value of the existing relationship. His remarks echoed those of St Vincent's Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, who, at the EU-CELAC summit in Chile, reminded Europe that the relationship between the EU and CARIFORUM was not just economic but 'profoundly political'. Europe's approach to development after 2014 will, in effect, graduate almost all Caribbean nations other than Haiti out of bilateral development assistance.