February 24th, 2014 -- The International Year of Small Island Development States (SIDS) was officially launched on 24 February 2014. The European Union acknowledges that SIDS face common challenges and experience specific vulnerabilities across the economic, social and environmental dimensions. They are all greatly affected by climate change and confronted with rising sea levels, and face frequent natural and man-made disasters.
There are twenty-three (23) SIDS in the Caribbean Region. The EU and EU member states are the largest donors of grant aid to the region and a major trade and cultural partner. As one example of collaboration, SIDS currently benefit from EU support provided through Sustainable Fisheries Agreements, as well as promoting sustainable fisheries management and development. The EU maintains six (6) Delegations in the Caribbean. In 2013 an overall envelope of 1 billion euro was announced in support to the region from the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) from 2014 - 2020.
The European Union and its member states have a long standing concern for the challenges and conditions faced by SIDS. The EU and EU members have actively contributed to the elaboration and to the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action (BPoA) and of the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI). The EU and EU MS see SIDS as natural, equal partners on critical global issues, which by definition defy borders.On many of these issues the SIDS group and the EU and EU member states share common opinions.
The EU and EU member states intend to continue existing efforts and build on them, especially for the preparation and negotiation of the outcomes from the Third International Conference on SIDS to be held in Apia, Samoa, in September 2014. Indeed, the European Union seeks to enhance the cooperation with the SIDS; strengthen existing partnerships and developing new ones. Future cooperation will also include strengthening of ties with the Outermost Regions of the EU and with EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) that share common characteristics and challenges with the SIDS.
At a global level, the EU and EU member states will also seek to enhance cooperation on joint research, building on existing areas of Information Society Technologies and Information and Communication Technology networks and partnerships, e-Science, biodiversity, oceans, climate change, health, and natural disasters, as well as the development of regional networks on science, technology and innovation.
The Delegation of the European Union covers Barbados, the six independent Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States as well as three British Overseas Countries and Territories (Anguilla, The British Virgin Islands and Montserrat). For bilateral cooperation under the 11th EDF, the sectors of renewable energy, health, public financial management, private sector development and rural transport have been identified as areas for support in partnership with our counterparts. The Delegation is also actively engaged in programming the regional envelope, where the concept of Multi Country Programmes offers a new modality for regional integration.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
Barbados News