Guyana leading Caribbean in implementation – EU Director Latin American
NCN, Guyana
Guyana leading Caribbean in implementation – EU Director Latin American
24 April 2012
Guyana has taken the lead in the Caribbean in implementing aspects of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
This is the view of Latin America and the Caribbean and European Commission Directorate of Development and Cooperation, Jolita Butkeviciene, who is here with a team to assess Guyana’s cooperation with the European Union. Accompanied by head of delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Ambassador, Robert Kopecky, Ms. Butkeviciene met President Donald Ramotar at the Office of The President.
Focusing on sea defense, poverty reduction, and competitiveness in the sugar industry and improving social services, Ms. Butkeviciene is expected to end her visit, with a determination of the future of the EU’S development efforts here. She acknowledged that Guyana’s views on the EPA were well represented in negotiation process, and there is evidence that the country is benefitting from the deal.
She disclosed that there is 75 million Euros ready for disbursement, in line with priorities of the Guyana government. EPAs are a scheme to create a ‘free trade area’ between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
They are a response to continuing criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminatory preferential trade agreements offered by the EU are incompatible with the world trade organization’s rules.
