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GRENADA’S AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION, STEPHEN FLETCHER PAYS COURTESY CALL ON TOP EU OFFICIAL

BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 16, 2009 – Grenada’s Ambassador to the European Union Stephen Fletcher, paid a courtesy call on European Union (EU) Director General for Development Stefano Manservisi on Monday.

During the hour-long meeting a number of issues of mutual concern between Grenada and the EU were discussed.  Among the issues were, the resuscitation of the Agriculture Sector, Marketing and Branding options facing the Banana and Nutmeg sub-sectors, the global financial crisis and its impact on Grenada, and the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) signed in November 2008.

The Director General expressed satisfaction with manner in which the school repair programme, in particular, was undertaken.

Ambassador Fletcher thanked Mr. Manservisi for the support received from the EU over the years and highlights the excellent relations which exist between Grenada and the European Union over the last three decades.

The two officials also discussed wider issues covering CARICOM, CARIFORUM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the importance of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to the region. 

In Particular, Ambassador Fletcher stressed the need to ensure that priority be given to the establishment of the institutional arrangements envisaged under the EPA.  These arrangements are deemed critical in order to avoid undue delay in the region’s ability to leverage the benefits of the EPA.  

The need for increase political dialogue between the region and the EU was also highlighted. With regards to the regional integration movements (OECS and CSME) both parties recognised the importance of building institutional capacity of key regional institutions in order to foster the integration process in the region.  

Ambassador Fletcher reiterated the Government, and people of Grenada gratitude for the continuing support from the EU.

The two officials restated their commitment to increasing collaboration, and friendship between Grenada and EU and promises to build on the dialogue which they started at Monday’s meeting.

Also in attendance at the meeting was Ms. Cristina Calabro, Desk Officer for the Windward Islands at the DG Development. 

 

Brief Notes on DG Development.

The Directorate General for Development (DG DEV) works on policy formulation at global and sectoral level. DG Development formulates the development policy applicable to all developing countries and conducts forward studies to this end.

The main thematic and sectoral areas covered (sub-activities) are those on which the development policy focuses: linking trade with development, regional integration and co-operation, support for macro-economic policies and promoting equitable access to social services in coherence with the macro-economic framework, supporting transport, promoting food security and sustainable rural development and support for institutional capacity building.

DG Development also contributes significantly to policy formulation in other policy areas such as environment, trade, fisheries etc., which fall under the responsibility of other Commission services.

DG Development has a direct responsibility for the Community relations with sub-Saharan Africa as well as the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Most of those countries are signatories of the Lomé Convention (i.e. the 77 ACP countries), which has been replaced by the Cotonou Agreement signed in June 2000 and having come into force since 1 April 2003.

Substantial financial resources have been committed to the co-operation (9th EDF 16.4 billion for 2002 to 2007). Bilateral relations with ACP countries also comprise a flexible political dialogue that encompasses co-operation strategies, conflict prevention, and resolution and conflict management. A political dialogue also takes place in the regional context. 

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