BASSETERRE, S.t Kitts, 20 December, 2010 - CARIFORUM is proceeding with the process for opening Caribbean markets to architects, interior designers and engineers in the European Union through negotiations of an Economic Partnership Agreement. A Mutual Recognition Agreement is being debated to facilitate the movement of services and architects between the CARIFORUM countries and all the countries of the European Union.

A representative of St. Kitts-Nevis Institute of Architects, Mr. Wycliffe H Morton (President) attended a meeting in Jamaica on 16th  - 17th December 2010. The meeting was sponsored by the CariCom Office of Trade Negotiations, TradeCom and European Union. The regional meeting was organized in the framework of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment.

The objective of the meeting was to review the draft Mutual Recognition Agreement and supporting documentation in the latest stage of preparation for negotiations between the regional bodies of architecture; Federation of Caribbean Associations of Architects (FCAA), Association of Commonwealth Societies of Architects in the Caribbean (ACSAC), and CEDARQ-FUNGLODE from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and their counterpart Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE). This is following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications by the parties on 19th November 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.

The Caribbean regional bodies formed a joint negotiating committee known as Caribbean Architects Mutual Recognition Agreement Committee (CAMRAC) which will handle the negotiation preparations and negotiate with ACE toward the Mutual Recognition Agreement. The representatives expect the process to move forward with minimal difficulties and disagreements.