A recalibrated partnership between the Caribbean and the European Union (EU) is crucial for driving sustainable development in the Caribbean, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That is according to a 2022 working paper co-authored by Dr. Jan Yves Remy, Director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services (SRC) at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and Mr. Junior Lodge, an independent trade and development consultant.
Titled “The Promise of a Recalibrated Caribbean-European Union Partnership”, the paper outlines the challenges and potential for strengthening biregional ties between the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) and the EU. The authors argue that while the longstanding partnership has evolved beyond trade and development into a reciprocal trade and political agreement, its effectiveness is undermined by lingering disagreements and structural issues. They emphasise that both sides must work towards a political partnership built on shared values, including democracy, rule of law, and regional integration, in order to foster economic development.
The paper highlights key issues straining the partnership, such as suboptimal implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the EU’s blacklisting of certain Caribbean countries as “non-cooperative jurisdictions,” and unmet Caribbean expectations around EU support for agreements like the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The authors make a strong call for CARIFORUM to adopt a more ambitious development agenda, focusing on emerging sectors like the blue economy, renewable energy, and digitalisation. They stress that post-pandemic recovery in the Caribbean will require not only bolder economic policies but also deeper and more consistent engagement between Caribbean governments and the EU.
Remy and Lodge propose that this new phase of the partnership could be bolstered by greater European investment in Caribbean development, particularly through mechanisms like the EU’s Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) funding, which could be leveraged to attract aid from other development partners. However, they caution that the European Development Fund (EDF) has historically been spread too thin across projects, limiting its transformational impact.
The working paper further urges that CARIFORUM-EU relations should transition away from technical-level management and focus on higher-level ministerial engagement, particularly with Caribbean Heads of Government and Ministers of Finance. This shift, according to the authors, is critical for addressing key issues such as taxation, renewable energy, and skills training, all of which are essential for post-pandemic recovery.
Despite the challenges, the paper remains optimistic about the potential for a revitalised partnership. The Post-Cotonou Agreement and the Caribbean-EU Regional Protocol offer fresh opportunities to strengthen this relationship. To seize this moment, the paper advises, both CARIFORUM and the EU must act decisively, ensuring that their partnership delivers tangible development outcomes for the Caribbean region.
As the Caribbean faces mounting socioeconomic challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this recalibrated partnership could prove essential for securing the region’s long-term growth and resilience.
