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BRUSSELS, Belgium, December 5, 2009 – Just days before the start of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Grenada’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, H.E. Stephen Fletcher, called on the EU to support the Commonwealth Climate Change Declaration which was issued at the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain last week.

Ambassador Fletcher was making his contribution to the “Extraordinary Meeting of the Committee of Ambassadors” which was held on Friday. The meeting was called by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Secretariat to among other things, to have an exchange of views with the European Commission on climate change ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from December 7-18.

The EU views were presented by Mr. Stefano Manservisi, Director General for Development at the European Commission. During his presentation, Mr. Manservisi focused on four (4) key areas; current status of discussion on the discussion, possible content of the agreement, especially on the matter of the reduction of the emissions, financing and the instrument for implementation.

In replying to Mr. Manservisi’s presentation, Ambassador Fletcher, highlighted the role of Grenada as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and stressed the need for the EU position in Copenhagen to be in congruence with AOSIS’ position.

In particular Ambassador Fletcher, stressed the need for more than an ambitious outcome but more so a successful win-win outcome. Ambassador Fletcher, called for the “establishment of a global architecture to address the issues of climate change post Copenhagen, and iterated that Copenhagen is NOT AN END IN ITSELF BUT A MEANS TO AN END”.

In responding to Mr. Manservi’s view that developed as well as some developing countries should contribute towards alleviating the cost of climate change, Ambassador Fletcher, reminded the participants of the declaration of the Commonwealth, which calls for the agreement on Copenhagen “address the urgent needs of developing countries by providing financing as well as the need for an early start to provision for financial resources.

Fast start funding, constituting grant funding, should provide substantial support for adaptation, and REED plus and clean technology”.
Ambassador Fletcher stressed the need for cooperative action on the part of all countries to contribute towards finding a solution to the problem, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

In closing Ambassador Fletcher, called on the EU representatives to demonstrate true partnership with the ACP grouping by among other things supporting the Commonwealth and AOSIS in Copenhagen.