GFDD/Funglode President Gives Keynote Speech at EU-CELAC Conference “The Caribbean in the Strategic Partnership EU-CELAC”

Dr. Leonel Fernández, participated in the meeting, held at the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris, France, through video projection. He pointed out the Caribbean’s cultural and linguistic wealth and the region’s unique geographic location, as well as the origins of the relationship between Europe and the Caribbean

Within the framework of their strategic partnership, the European Union – Latin America and Caribbean
Foundation (EU-LAC) and the Institute of the Americas (Institut des Amériques, IdA) organize every year, during Latin American and Caribbean Week in France, with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and the European Commission, a conference to promote and strengthen the bi-regional partnership.

This year’s meeting took place on June 1 at the Palais du Luxembourg with
the joint support of the University of Bordeaux’s Montesquieu Center for Political Research and the French Agency for Development (AFD), focusing on the topic “the Caribbean in the strategic partnership EU-CELAC.”

Following opening words given by IdA and EULAC Foundation authorities, as well as a speech by the Secretary General of SEGIB, Rebeca Grynspan, two keynote speeches were given through video projection: one by President of the Global
Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode), Leonel Fernández, and another by the secretary general of the Association of Caribbean States, June Soomer.

During his presentation, President Fernández pointed out the Caribbean’s cultural and linguistic wealth and the region’s unique geographic location, as well as the origins of the relationship between Europe and the Caribbean. He explained
that, in addition to the relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union, which is based on common values and concerns, the Caribbean maintains privileged and direct relations with Europe due to the Dutch, English and French presence in the region, through the ACP states and thanks to preferential treatment.

The president of GFDD/Funglode also reflected upon the new reality that has existed for 10 or 15 years and which will culminate in 2020,
when the Cotonou Agreement concludes and a new phase between the two regions will begin. He pointed out that in Europe there is the perception that many countries in the Caribbean have improved their situation to become middle-income countries and, thus, cooperation is less needed. In this regard, Dr. Fernández explained the importance of considering the possible reaction from the Caribbean if less cooperation took place, the need to strengthen the two economies, take action against climate
change and focus on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Later on, the conference divided into three sessions that enabled participants to confront and understand the major challenges that face the Caribbean states and territories, in the framework of an evolving EU-CELAC relationship and within a fragile and complex international setting: “Strengths and weaknesses of the contemporary Caribbean,” “the Caribbean before changes in the
international arena” and “the Caribbean and its relationship with Latin America and the European Union” were the titles of the three panel discussions.

Claire Guillemin participated in her capacity as representative from IdA””s Polo Caribe at Funglode and was in charge of completing the executive summary for the meeting, which would be shared among the organizing institutions.

Hugo Martínez Bonilla, El
Salvador’s Foreign Relations minister, ended the meeting. His country will be the host of the next EU-CELAC Summit on October 26 and 27.

The experts participating in this meeting came from within and outside the Caribbean, and included French, English and Spanish speakers, as well as researchers, and representatives from civil society, international organizations and states. The goal of this conference was to promote debate and reflection about the bilateral
EU-CELAC relationship and about the upcoming meeting in October 2017.

More information:
https://eulacfoundation.org/en
www.funglode.org