Post-Cotonou Agreement Should Consider OACPS Vulnerabilities

(Barbados Government Information Service Press Release) The Post-Cotonou Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), formerly known as the ACP Group of States, could be one of the most diverse agreements, but it must take into account the vulnerabilities that the OACPS faces.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Sandra Husbands, stated this (on Wednesday), during the Sixth Meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee, held at the Hilton Barbados Resort.

Noting that the fragile economies of the region have become even more vulnerable within the last two years, because they had to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, volcanic eruptions and now the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Minister Husbands pointed out that the Post-Cotonou Agreement and the benefits to be derived could aid the Caribbean in building back its economies, but it should take into account the region’s vulnerabilities.

“The vulnerability of these countries is not taken into consideration when we seek to organise the systems or build agreements. There is, therefore, a need for a much fairer index, which will incorporate vulnerability as one of the elements that must be considered when evaluating the needs of countries. All of this has very serious implications for the continued prosperity and development of our countries,” Ms. Husbands stated.

Read more at: Barbados Government Information Service

Source: CARICOM TODAY