Published: 05 April 2013

Role for EPA in Unlocking Economic Value of Region’s Cultural Industries, Sporting Sectors

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Unlocking the economic value of the cultural industries and sporting sectors of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) holds much promise for development prospects, especially at a time when there has been a significant reduction in traditional revenue streams. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) represents an important ‘key’ for the Region, in this regard.

This insight emanated from deliberations of the Parliamentary Delegations of the CARIFORUM States Legislatures and the European Parliament, on the occasion of the Second Meeting of the CARIFORUM-European Union (EU) Parliamentary Committee. The Meeting, convened in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on April 3, was chaired by Senator the Honourable Vasant Bharath, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Trinidad and Tobago.

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Published: 05 April 2013

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)
Second Meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU Parliamentary Committee

3 April 2013
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

JOINT DECLARATION


1. The Parliamentary Delegations of the CARIFORUM States Legislatures and the European Parliament, chaired by Senator the Honourable Vasant Bharath, Trinidad and Tobago, celebrate the holding of the Second Meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU Parliamentary Committee in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. As set out in Article 231 of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the CARIFORUM States and the European Community and its Member States the role of this Committee is to monitor and review the implementation of the Agreement, and to be a forum for members of the European Parliament and the CARIFORUM States Legislatures to meet and exchange views.

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Published: 26 September 2012

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Trinidad and Tobago will, on 27 September 2012, play host to the Second Meeting of the Trade and Development Committee (TDC) under the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM)-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

A preparatory meeting of CARIFORUM Officials, also to be held in Trinidad and Tobago, will be convened ahead of the TDC.

“The upcoming TDC provides both the CARIFORUM and EU sides the opportunity to address a range of pressing matters ahead of the next meeting of the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council,” said the CARIFORUM Coordinator and Director-General of the CARIFORUM Directorate, Mr Ivan Ogando Lora.

Matters for discussion at the upcoming TDC relate heavily to Trade in Goods and Trade in Services, but other areas covered by the EPA are also on the agenda. These include Data Protection, Public Procurement, Competition and Geographical Indications. In addition, the Meeting will discuss preparations for monitoring the implementation of the EPA, both the benefits derived and the obligations met, and efforts to establish the Consultative Committee which will allow civil society groups an opportunity to participate in the implementation of the EPA.

The TDC is the second highest institution of the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Institutions which oversee the implementation of the EPA. The Committee brings together Officials from the CARIFORUM and EU sides and is charged with overseeing implementation of the EPA. It is also mandated with preparing the ground for the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council (JC). The JC is the highest EPA Institution and meets at Ministerial level. It is vested with responsibility to supervise the implementation of the EPA and has the authority to amend the Agreement. The Second Meeting of the JC will be held in Brussels on 26 October.

In keeping with its Rules of Procedure, the TDC is chaired alternately for periods of 12 months by Senior Officials of the European Commission, on behalf of the EU and by Senior Officials of the CARIFORUM States on behalf of CARIFORUM. The TDC is currently chaired by the EU.

In accordance with the principle of rotation, enshrined in the CARIFORUM Rules of Procedure, the Dominican Republic assumed the Chairmanship of the CARIFORUM regional bloc from 1 July 2012, a position it will hold until 30 June 2013. As a result an Official from the Dominican Republic, Ms Magdalena Estevez will lead the CARIFORUM Side.

The fifteen signatory Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific (CARIFORUM) States to the EPA are the independent CARICOM Member States and the Dominican Republic.