Discussions on priority areas for 2023 were held between Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, and the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Barbados, Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, CARICOM & Cariforum, Malgorzata Wasilewska.
During a courtesy call at the Ministry’s Culloden Road, St. Michael location recently, Minister Symmonds spoke about the longstanding and friendly relations between Barbados and the EU, and how future bilateral collaborations could be enhanced going forward.
Ambassador Wasilewska reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to improving its relations with the Caribbean and to assisting Barbados in accessing technical assistance in priority areas.
The main issues discussed included: Climate Change; Life Sciences, Biotechnology; Trade; the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EULAC) Summit next year; EU Development funding; scholarships, and other upcoming forums/summits for 2023.
Other areas were the Global Gateway Initiative; Bridgetown Initiative; Information Technology; Culture; Fashion and sharing of best practices and knowledge expertise by EU countries in areas such as manufacturing, renewable energy, entrepreneurship and drafting legislation.
Also present at the courtesy call were Minister Sandra Husbands; Permanent Secretary, Simone Rudder; Foreign Service Officer, Craig Brathwaite, and EU’s Deputy Head of Delegation, Fenny Steenks.
Barbados’ formal relationship with the European Union dates back to July 1976, when the EU Delegation Office in Barbados was first established.