Background

On April 16 2004 CARIFORUM became the fourth region in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group to launch Economic partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union (EU). It was agreed that a Caribbean–EU EPA would include all current Member States of the CARIFORUM Group (i.e. CARICOM and the Dominican Republic).

The CARIFORUM Lead Ministerial Spokesperson on EPA is Dame Antoinette (Billie) Miller, Senior Minister and Minster of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados.

The Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) has the responsibility for negotiating on behalf of CARICOM and the Dominican Republic. The Principal Negotiator of CARIFORUM is the Director General of the RNM, Ambassador Richard Bernal.

The Caribbean’s objectives for the EPA as outlined in the Caribbean Guidelines are:

1. Attainment of development that is socially and environmentally sustainable;
2. Facilitation of structural transformation which would reduce the region’s acute economic vulnerability and bring about a level of international competitiveness leading to sustainable development;
3. Adjustment in a manner, at a pace and in a sequence which upholds their democratic systems and avoids economic dislocation; and
4. Support for the diversification of Caribbean economies including the stimulation of investment.

The negotiations are organised in four phases as follows:

1. Phase I (Initial Phase) from April – September 2004
2. Phase II (Regional Integration Phase) from September 2004 – September 2005
3. Phase III (Consolidation Phase) from September 2005 – December 2006
4. Phase IV (Finalization Phase) January 2007- December 2007