Joint EU-Caribbean Partnership Strategy

At the May 2010 EU-CARIFORUM Summit in Madrid, Heads of States and Governments agreed to work on a Joint EU-Caribbean Partnership Strategy (JECS) and identified five core areas for closer cooperation: regional integration, reconstruction of Haiti, climate change and natural disasters, crime and security and joint action in multilateral fora.

The EU and the Caribbean share a long history and a broad base of common values. Through its overseas regions, countries and territories, the EU is also physically part of the Caribbean. Both regions share a commitment to global peace, progress and prosperity as well as to democracy and the rule of law. For the Caribbean, the EU has been and remains a reliable development partner, whose support has been important in the region's efforts towards sustainable development.

Relations are currently underpinned by the Cotonou Agreement, the EU–CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement, and the bi-regional political dialogue. These are complemented by other regional cooperation frameworks in which the EU and the Caribbean participate, such as the EU-Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Partnership.

This draft Joint Strategy aims to develop a new dimension to the relationship, allowing the EU and the Caribbean nations to deepen dialogue and structure their cooperation in order to address together the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The guiding principles for the Joint Strategy are joint ownership, mutual accountability and solidarity, co-management and co-responsibility. It reflects the shared commitment of CARIFORUM and the EU to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and in international law, including in particular the respect for and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, rule of law and democratic governance.

The purpose of this Joint Communication is to seek the endorsement by the Council of the proposed Joint EU-Caribbean Partnership Strategy.