TURKEYEN, GUYANA – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will seek the support of countries such as Italy to sensitise other members of the European Community on the challenges that small countries face in adjusting to new reciprocal arrangements under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), CARICOM Secretary-General H.E. Edwin Carrington said.
Shortly before accepting the letters of credence of Ambassador Luigi Maccotta, Italy’s Plenipotentiary Representative to CARICOM on February 19 at the CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Georgetown, the Secretary-General noted the longstanding “positive and amicable” relationship between CARICOM and Italy, and the co-operation the Community received from Italy within the international fora on issues that were of critical importance.
The EPA between CARIFORUM Member States and the European Community was initialed in Barbados on December 16, 2007 after more than three years of negotiations.
CARICOM Secretary-General H.E. Edwin Carrington
“As the Region embarks upon a new relationship with the European Union (EU) within the context of the recently concluded Negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), we look to countries such as Italy to sensitize other Members of the European Community of the challenges that confront these small countries as they seek to adjust to the new reciprocal arrangements inherent in the EPA. In this regard, the importance of the development dimension of the historical EU – CARIFORUM relationship cannot be over emphasized,” Secretary-General Carrington said at the ceremony.
CARICOM, Mr. Carrington said, was also heartened that Italy places priority on issues such as Climate Change and economic and social development, which were of critical importance to the Community.
The Secretary-General was also appreciative of the interest and support of Italy and the European Union in regional integration as a mechanism to enhance economic development in the Caribbean.
CARICOM and Italy have enjoyed a positive and amicable relationship dating back to 1988 when Italy became a non-borrowing member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
During almost two decades, the Community recognized Italy as a valuable technical cooperation partner, lending assistance in a range of areas of vital interest to the Region, including climate change, food security, natural disaster prevention and enhancing capacity in tourism.
Ambassador Maccotta succeeded Ambassador Gerardo Carante, Italy’s first Plenipotentiary Representative to CARICOM.