Brussels, 27/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Before going to Washington for his official visit at the beginning of next week, European Commissioner Pascal Lamy will be in St Lucia in the Caribbean for 1-2 March to Chair the ACP/EU Trade Ministerial, in the hope of giving a boost to inter-regional negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the on-going negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A number of meetings are programmed with regional counterparts, the Prime Minister of St Lucia and business leaders on the same them: regional development and the ACP in trade and regional integration.
Mr Lamy stated that, "This is my first working visit to the Caribbean since taking office as Trade Commissioner. St Lucia will provide an excellent setting for examining the specific constraints facing small island countries as well as the Caribbean as a whole. I want to discuss how the Doha Development Agenda and the Economic Partnership Agreements can contribute to sustainable development through regional integration. We have a tremendous challenge ahead of us but I am confident that our joint work will assist in these efforts."
On Saturday the fourth ACP-EU Ministerial Trade Committee will take place, focusing on the main issues arising in Union and ACP trade. An assessment of the progress accomplished in negotiations on the EPA is also part of the programme, as well as an examination of the next stages in the process triggered in September 2002, including the opening of negotiations between the EU and the 6 ACP regions. Each region will be represented by three countries, which will bring the number of ACP participants up to 18. This meeting will also allow for an exchange of views on WTO negotiations in the context of the Ministerial Conference of Cancun.
Mr Lamy will then meet Caribbean Ministers to examine the challenges in trade and the regional integration process. Mr Lamy and the Secretary General of Cariform, Edwin Carrington, will sign the Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme for providing support of EUR 75 million to the Caribbean region for the period 2003-2007. This support will include projects relating to trade and regional integration in the Caribbean region as identified in joint discussions with Cariform. Mr Lamy will also meet with Caribbean business leaders to discuss main trade challenges for the Caribbean economy.