Guyana receive over 24 Million Euros from the European Union under the Accompanying Measures Programme for sugar
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guyana, October 26, 2016
On Tuesday October 25, 2016, Mr Stefano Manservisi, Director General for International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission and Finance Minister Winston Jordan signed documents triggering the release to Guyana of over 24,424,000 Euros. This sum is related to the Action Programme adopted by Guyana in the context of the Accompanying Measures Programme (AMP) for Sugar established by the European Union. The EU had suspended disbursements to Guyana following the Prorogation of Parliament by former President Donald Ramotar.
The signature took place in the margins of the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and European Union (CELAC-EU) currently being held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Following the finding by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body in 2004 that the EU Sugar Regime was inconsistent with WTO rules, the EU had established a 1.2 billion Euros fund to assist the ACP sugar exporting countries to reform their sugar sector in order to improve their competitiveness or to diversify out of sugar. In releasing these resources the European Commission has indicated that the Government of Guyana has made remarkable progress and commendable efforts in terms of budget transparency and accountability. Mr Manservisi emphasized the European Union is committed to continue assisting Guyana in its transformation.
In the absence of Foreign Minister Carl B. Greenidge, who had accompanied President Granger on a State Visit to the Republic of Chile, Minister Winston Jordan headed Guyana’s delegation to the CELAC-EU Meeting. The other members of the delegation were David Hales, Ambassador of Guyana to Belgium and the EU and Vonetta Victor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the course of the CELAC-EU meeting, Foreign Ministers of CARIFORUM were also expected to hold discussions with Mrs Federicia Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission on October 26, 2016.
Guyana’s National Coordinator to CELAC is Ambassador Audrey Jardine Waddell, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CELAC and the EU have enjoyed privileged relations since the first bi-regional Summit in 1999 which established a strategic partnership. CELAC-EU relations are structured around biennial summits, Minister of Foreign Affairs meetings and regular Senior Officials meeting as well as specific thematic dialogues and initiatives.