A four-member Anguillian delegation, headed by Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Commerce and Tourism, Mr. Victor Banks, is in Brussels this week. The delegation is attending the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) European Union (EU) Forum and the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) Ministerial Conference.
Representing Anguilla at the February 22-26 meetings, in addition to Chief Minister Mr. Banks, are Mrs. Blondel Cluff, the Government’s recently-appointed Representative to the United Kingdom and the European Union; Mr. Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development, Investment, Commerce and Tourism; and Ms. Anthea Ipinson-Connor, Chief Projects Officer, who is also the Deputy Territorial Authorising Officer for the European Development Fund.
The OCT-EU Forum is a tripartite meeting that includes the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the European Union; the European Commission; and the four EU Member States, the UK, France, Denmark and The Netherlands.
The OCTA Ministerial Conference is an annual meeting between Ministers of the OCTs which sets out the visions, strategy and the action plan to be implemented by the OCTA Executive Committee.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Finance in Anguilla, this year the discussions included two high-level roundtable meetings focussed on two major topics of mutual interest. These are: “The new global agreement on climate change, and the OCT’s response efforts and enhancing growth and investment opportunities in the OCTs.”
The Forum was preceded by meetings which focused on the implementation and the programming of the EU’s Territorial and Regional programmes of partnership, and the European Development Fund.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that approximately EC$42.9 million (14 million Euros) has been allocated for Anguilla’s Territorial Programme for the 11th EDF period 2015-2020. This programme will support implementation of the island’s education sector policy as outlined in its Education Development Plan: Education and Training for a better Future – A Strategy for Education, 2015-2020.
A total budget of 40 million Euros has been allocated to the 11th EDF Regional Programme. Under this programme, the Caribbean OCTs will collaborate in the areas of Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity.
