BRUSSELS, Belgium (December 4, 2013) – Honourable Premier Reuben Meade is presently in Belgium participating in the annual meeting of the European Union Overseas Countries and Territories conference.
On Tuesday, Premier Meade and his delegation attended a high level session called "The EU Overseas Countries and Territories: Valuing a global asset and developing regional hubs" at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The aim of the conference was to raise awareness on the OCT’s, highlighting the opportunities offered by these territories to the EU. Government leaders from Aruba, the British Virgin Islands, Greenland and New Caledonia presented their views, priorities and strategies for the next period of the Overseas Association Decision (OAD) in a high profile exchange with the European Parliament and Commission.
The session was led by Maurice Ponga, who is the Chair of the "Islands and Overseas Entities" Working Group of the European Parliament Intergroup on "Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development". Mr Miguel Angel Martinez MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament co-chaired this session.
The day-long conference looked at: “Promoting sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity,” “Climate Change – turning a challenge into an opportunity, and “Renewable energy as a driver for a sustainable economy.”
Cabinet Secretary Angela Greenaway who is also attending the conference said worthy of note was the regional presentation from Aruba on the work they have been doing in the area of renewable energy both in terms of wind and solar energy.
The EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) are islands located in the Atlantic, Antarctic, Arctic, Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific regions. The OCTs are associated with the EU through the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The rules and principles of this association are laid down periodically in the Overseas Association Decision (OAD). For the period 2014-2020 the new OAD is providing a fresh scope for the partnership between the EU and its OCT’s with focus on their added value as global assets to the EU and their potential as regional hubs.
*************************
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
Montserrat News