Senior Government Officials discuss future relations with the EU

Premier Hon.Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE sits with participants in the one-day workshop on the EV and BVI’s future relationship listening attentively to the presentation by Consultant, Mr. Ben Coleman. Photo Credit: Mr. Doron Hodge/GIS

The workshop on Tuesday brought together 30 senior Government officials, including Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE to discuss the questions “Does the European Union matter to the BVI? Can we get more out of it or should we forget it?” The discussions were based on the Green Paper on Future relations between the EU and the Overseas Countries and Territories which was tabled by the European Commission in June this year.

The workshop included two presentations by Consultant to the Government, Mr. Ben Coleman, who explained that the Green Paper constitutes an attempt to thoroughly revise the EU-OCT relationship by facilitating extensive discussion.

“They want to examine the challenges and opportunities to gain input from interested parties,” Mr. Coleman told participants, adding that the revision is not about the quantity or source of future EU funding but “more about the philosophy that guides the partnership.”   ~~Adz:Right~~

Of particular importance to the EU, Mr. Coleman said, is an examination of how to “step away from the classic development cooperation approach which is poverty focussed and at the same time enhances the competitiveness of the OCT’s and their gradual integration within the regional and world economies.”

Mr. Coleman noted that while the BVI does not receive the territorial allocation because its gross national product per capita is above the EU’s average, it is eligible for funding through regional projects. He highlighted education and training, youth in action, innovation and research, the environment and culture among the areas in which the Territory can benefit from future relations with the EU.

He stated that one of the key considerations will be getting the EU to consider the vulnerability of the BVI––“vulnerability to the fact that we have difficulties in trading and vulnerability to environmental shocks; and maybe as a result of the whole process, we can construct a vulnerability index which will get the BVI’s particular challenges better recognised and maybe enable us to again receive bilateral funding.”

The challenges going forward Mr. Coleman said will involve the exploration of EU opportunities as part of strategic development planning by Government and its various ministries and departments and the proper coordination of the relationship through a specifically assigned person or department.

Explaining the rationale for Tuesday’s workshop, Director of the International Affairs Secretariat (IAS) Mrs. Lorna Smith said the Territory needs to determine the best relationship to pursue with the EU. Mrs. Smith highlighted the questions that ought to asked “should we continue to have the same relationship, should it be improved, how is it going to be improved or should be perhaps end the relationship?”

Participants in the workshop worked in focus groups to consider a number of the questions raised in the Green Paper including making the relationship with the EU more reciprocal in nature and increased regional cooperation for the BVI and its fellow OCT members.