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– new partnership strategy being developedThe Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and for the Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories, Ambassador Robert Kopecký,St. Louis Cardinals Zach Duke Jersey, yesterday presented his Letters of Credence to the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.The ceremony, held at the CARICOM Secretariat in Turkeyen, saw Ambassador Kopecký being accredited as the Plenipotentiary Representative of the European Union to CARICOM,Colby Rasmus Jersey, an EU statement said yesterday.Ambassador Robert Kopecký (left) presenting his Letters of Credence to the Secretary-General of CARICOM,Houston Astros Norichika Aoki Jersey, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.“Ambassador Kopecký will now formally be able to continue building on the long standing relationship between the two groupings.”The EU and CARICOM currently have an extensive programme of cooperation centred on the 10th European Development Fund’s Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme of 165 million euros that concentrates primarily on assisting the region in implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement [EPA].This agreement was signed between the EU and CARICOM, supporting progress in the CSME and facilitating cooperation with the Dominican Republic and Haiti,Michael Saunders Jersey, the latter needing particular assistance to participate fully in regional cooperation since its disastrous earthquake. It also supports further integration in the OECS sub-region and private sector development through Caribbean Export.CARICOM and the EU are currently working on a new joint Caribbean-EU Partnership Strategy. This is being accompanied by increased attention to political dialogue,Will Middlebrooks Jersey, the EU indicated yesterday.Head of the Caribbean Unit of the European External Action Service,Bartolo Colon Jersey, John Caloghirou,Matt Wieters Jersey, was scheduled to arrive in Guyana yesterday to further discuss these issues with CARICOM and the EU Delegation.Commenting after the ceremony Ambassador Kopecký said that he was “pleased to discover upon arrival in Guyana that 80% of the current Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme has been committed and looked forward to working with CARICOM to ensure that the development of the remaining 20% of EU-funded programmes in the areas of Health, Linguistic Support,Drew Hutchison Jersey, Civil Society,Oakland Athletics Santiago Casilla Jersey, Crime & Security and enhanced cooperation with all territories in the region are fast tracked”.He also expressed the hope that the EPA progresses further in its implementation and expressed the EU’s renewed commitment to working with CARICOM in this regard. |
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