New EU Ambassador Meets with PM Of Antigua And Barbuda

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore.com, London

03 March 2008

Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda welcomed the Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ambassador Valeriano Diaz as he presented his credentials as the representative of the European Union to Antigua and Barbuda on February 25th.

Ambassador Diaz expressed his views on the importance of regional integration for Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean, and the experience of Europe in its own integration efforts.

The Antiguan Prime Minister raised the issue of the circumstances of small states like Antigua and Barbuda in the global economic arena.

He asserted that although globalisation and trade liberalisation do bring benefits, there is a strong threat of marginalisation to small and vulnerable economies in the international system.

He spoke of the market opportunities that will be made available by the recently concluded Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU, but he also stressed the risk of dislocation in the region, and argued that the EU should work with regional governments to mitigate or minimise any negative effects that arise from the agreement. Prime Minister Spencer also called for flexibility in the approach to the implementation of the EPAs.

Prime Minister Spencer and Ambassador Diaz also had meaningful discussions on development cooperation financing, with a view to coming up with solutions to the challenges faced in accessing and disbursing assistance from the European Development Fund (EDF).

Ambassador Valeriano Diaz was formerly the Head of the Pacific Unit at the European Commission's Directorate-General of Development Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

He has recently taken the post of Head of Delegation of the European Commission, replacing Amos Tincani who is now representing Europe in Francophone West African country, Burkina Faso.

Ambassador Diaz was accompanied by Mr Robert Baldwin (Counsellor, Social Development), and the Prime Minister's delegation consisted of Ambassador Colin Murdoch, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Dr Clarence Henry, National Authorising Officer for the EDF; Ms Cicely Solomon, Chief Protocol Officer; and Mr Dia Christian, Foreign Service Officer.

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