CARIFORUM countries concerned over EU policies

Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) countries say Europes decision for a considerable reduction of funds under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) must take into consideration the implications for the economic development of the region.

A joint communique issued at the end of the second meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU parliamentary committee in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this week, noted that the parliamentarians have emphasised that the development component is an integral part of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that CARIFORUM signed with the EU in 2008.

They said that the EPA should contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as well as to regional cooperation and integration.

The considerable reduction of funds available under the 11th EDF, as well as EU policy on differentiation in future development aid, must carefully take into consideration the implications for the economic development of the Caribbean and should not jeopardize its capacity to implement the EPA, it said.

CMC