Phase II
Phase II of the CARIFORUM-EC regional negotiations, which began in September 2004, were concluded, as scheduled in September 2005. Negotiations for Phase II were conducted over seven meetings – three at the Principal Negotiators Level and four at the Technical Level.

At the Fourth Meeting of Principal Negotiators which was held in St. Lucia, September 2005, both CARIFORUM and EC negotiators agreed that Phase II of the negotiations was a qualified success. This stemmed largely from the recognition that the two Parties broadly achieved the core objectives of:

1. developing an understanding of the respective regional economic spaces,
2. identifying CARIFORUM regional integration policies to be supported by an EPA.

Phase II negotiations were also instrumental in providing important insights into what may or may not be possible in Phase III negotiations.

Another important development arising out of Phase II was the identification of concrete project proposals in eleven specific fields that will be financed through the 9th European Development Fund.  These eleven fields represent CARIFORUM-EC agreed priority areas which upon completion, should serve to strengthen the CARICOM/CARIFORUM institutional base.  The eleven priority areas are:

1. Institutional Audit of the  CARIFORUM/CARICOM Secretariats
2. Development of a CARICOM Action Plan
3. Support for Statistical Development
4. Human Resource Development
5. Institutional Support for Trade Negotiations
6. ICT (Caribbean Information Society)
7. Disaster Management
8. Drug Control
9. Institutional Support for  the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
10. Technical Cooperation Facility
11. Private Sector and Trade Development

Phase III
The third phase of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM countries and the European Union was launched on 30th September 2005, in Saint Lucia. Substantive negotiations for Phase III are scheduled to begin in January 2006.

Phase III will define the structure and scope of an EPA, and determine the approach to trade liberalization, with the view to promoting sustainable development in CARIFORUM.

Phase III negotiations will be conducted in four negotiating groups: market access for agricultural and non-agricultural goods; services and investment; trade-related issues; and legal and institutional issues. 

The key objectives for CARIFORUM negotiators during this Consolidation Phase have been identified as:

1. Forging an agreement on the structure of an EPA,
2. Consolidating the outcome of discussions on the priority issues for CARIFORUM regional integration, and
3. Agreeing on an approach to trade liberalisation.

For further information on ACP/EU Relations, please refer to the following websites: www.acpsec.org, www.europa.eu.int