The Honoourable Camille Robinsonp-Regis, Minister of Planning and Development is announcing for public information that the European Union (EU) Partnership Agreement Meeting for the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, better known as the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement or the Cotonou Agreement has accessed TT$500 million in funding from EU Partnership Programmes in Trinidad and Tobago. This funding period is coming to a close in 2020 and Trinidad and Tobago is currently giving attention to engaging with the ACP Group and the EU.
The Cotonou Agreement was signed on the 23rd of June, 2000 and was established for a 20-year period from 2000 to 2020 and is currently the most comprehensive partnership agreement between developing countries and the EU. This Agreement establishes the framework for EU's relations with 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). The Ministry of Planning and Development is the focal point for the EU’s partnership agreements in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago has directly benefitted from this Programme through the 9th 10th and 11th European Union Fund (EDF) Programmes from over half a billion TT dollars in grant funding resources from the EU from 2000 to date. These projects include:
• The 9th EDF, focal area was for the development of Tertiary Education, 27 Million Euro approx. TTD $300 Million dollars and Health (HIV AIDS) which was the non-focal area received 7 Million Euro or TTD $86 Million. Total TT$386 Million.
• 10th EDF 25 Million Euro for Enabling Competitive Business (Min. of Trade and Industry) 25 Million Euro or TTD $230 Million dollars.
• 11th EDF focused on Innovation at $9.7 Million Euro or TTD $64 Million dollars.
As the Cotonou agreement draws to an end in 2020, the ACP Group is currently under negotiations with the EU for a successor agreement. The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms. Marie Hinds, led a Trinidad and Tobago delegation at the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement Meeting which was hosted by the Government of Suriname from the 28th to the 30th May, 2019.
This meeting provided an opportunity for National and Regional Authorising Officers; development partners such as the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the private sector, civil society and parliamentarians; to discuss issues relating to development finance under the 11th EDF and to reflect on projections for the post 2020 period.
Other delegates representing Trinidad and Tobago included; Mr. Bruce Lai, Director, European Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs; Mr. Esmond Ford, Member of Parliament, Tunapuna and Dr. Jennifer Sancho, CEO United Way Trinidad and Tobago.