The question is asked because I suspect that too few Jamaicans really understand the nature of the relationship between the two regions so geographically distant from each other. Last week's column was at the fifth European Union-Latin American and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) summit held in the city of Lima, capital of Peru. That column dealt in a general way with happenings at the conference.

This article attempts to put some specific flesh on the bones of that piece. That is because there is no more significant economic and social development relationship affecting the future of Jamaica as a part of the LAC region than our well-cemented partnership with the EU. Much of the information which follows is excerpted from the publication , "The strategic partnership between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean: a joint commitment", available through the European Commission Delegation in Jamaica.

"In the rapidly moving international environment, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean - which account for a quarter of all the states that make up the international system, with around one billion people, appear to be each other's most natural partners". That assertion is based on both regions "promoting shared values and principles", for example, democracy, mode of governance and respect for human rights. And there is a significant historical relationship, never mind that it was not always a relationship of equals. Europe clearly is demonstrating some compensation for the disparities of the relationship during the colonial era. Be that as it may, "the political and economic relationship between the two regions has evolved substantially over the past three decades through the negotiation and conclusion of a network of agreements covering a wide range of subjects". These agreements include association, political dialogue and cooperation, economic partnerships and more.

The EU-LAC strategic partnership began with the first summit of the heads of state or government of both regions in Rio in 1999. It was further consolidated and strengthened in Madrid (2002), Guadalajara (2004) and Vienna (2006). Lima (2008) is the fifth and most recent summit. In March 2006 the European Commission (EC), the operational arm of the EU adopted a new and enhanced partnership strategy with the Caribbean. This strategy frames future EU-Caribbean relations at the political, economic and development levels.

Addressing journalists at the summit, the European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson made it very clear that the EU much prefers to deal with trade blocs than with isolated countries. He stressed, for instance, the importance of the Caribbean Community, through Cariforum (including Cuba), moving forward to effect regional integration as early as possible. That this was not yet happening was a matter of some disappointment to the EU. Of course, we all know that the Caribbean side of the equation has its own concerns about equity in the new partnership agreements with the EU.
Our leaders will have to work on this concern, but it is clear that the Caribbean is not negotiating from a position of strength in terms of the concessions we expect from the EU.

The new strategic partnership between the EU and the Caribbean rests on three pillars. First, there is a political partnership based on shared values of "good and effective governance as a key to the consolidation of democracy, (and the) respect for human rights". Key components will include "institutional support as well as the promotion of transparency and the exchange of information to fight corruption as well as corporate and financial malpractices". The second pillar addresses "economic and environmental opportunities and vulnerabilities, focusing on support to regional integration and market building". This pillar includes "increasing competitiveness as well as increasing the region's capacity in natural disaster management with emphasis on risk reduction, preparedness, early warning, prevention and mitigation".

The third pillar focuses on the promotion of social cohesion and combating poverty, which includes fighting HIV/AIDS and illicit drugs, and strengthening the health-care system. It will be seen that the EU's three pillars of the enhanced strategic partnership are very comprehensive, covering virtually every main facet of the concerns of Caribbean nations. One manifestation was the new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in December 2007, which has rescued our banana industry with long-term trade protection. The European Union (European Commission and it member states), as the main donor to Latin America and the Caribbean, has instituted a Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), with new financial perspectives covering the period 2007-13 to address these pillars. And the new partnership approach of the European Development Fund (EDF) "emphasises a policy dialogue with Latin American and Caribbean countries".

This new approach to programming for 2008-13 represents an important political commitment by the EU towards the Caribbean: "General budget support is considered to be the most efficient method of aid delivery and will therefore be regarded as a priority." The EU does not hide the fact that it would like to see its own successful integration experience replicated in the LAC region. So let our political leaders take notice.

The EU is helping to make this commitment achievable through the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the Caribbean. Here in our local region, "the EIB operates under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and the related EDF-funded Investment Facility (IF)". The primary goal of the IF is to further reduce poverty by "contributing to sustained economic growth and private sector development". And in the Caribbean, managing climate change and its contribution to poverty is considered a major challenge and a priority. But funds are not scarce, because the EIB's total portfolio of investments and loans in the Caribbean currently stands at 294 million Euros.

The third article in this series will deal with some outcomes of the Lima Summit.

- browngeof@hotmail.com

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