The Association of Caribbean States has a long term vision, with a strategic vision that has allowed it to begin the process of jumping from simple projects to co-operation programmes.

This process started to take shape in May of this year, and the Summit of Heads of State and Government between the Leaders of the European Union and those of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, provided the Association of Caribbean States with a framework for its strategic strengthening, with a view toward developing this new vision. The ACS had already established important links with countries belonging to the European Union, but in order to continue developing this potential, it needed significant recognition in the Declaration. To do so and with the help of several countries, the Secretariat drafted a paragraph indicating within the Declaration of the Heads of State and/or Government, one more achievement, which would open up new spaces to international co-operation. The paragraph reads as follows:

“We recognise the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) as an important regional entity, through which relations between the EU and the Greater Caribbean Area can be deepened and consolidated. We welcome the progress made by the 28 ACS Member States in the consolidation of the cooperation Zone of the Greater Caribbean Area, through political dialogue, cooperation, consultations, and coordinated action in the fields of trade, sustainable tourism, transportation, and natural disasters”.

These plans for a new relationship between the European Union and the Association of Caribbean States have already been materialised. For example, on October 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland notified the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States of the decision to grant 334,000 Euros (just over US$400,000.00). These funds will be used to finance three pilot projects aimed at strengthening National Meteorological Services. This project is being developed as a follow-up to the SIDS-Caribbean project, through which meteorological equipment was updated and the users trained in several Caribbean countries. This project has had an investment of approximately US$3,800,000.00.

The project will enable countries to better forecast hydrometeorological phenomena, which, as proven by the most recent studies conducted by this Association, are the primary causes of natural disasters in the region.

This effort joins those of the other European nations that contribute continuously to the work of the Association, such as: France, Italy, Turkey, Germany, United Kingdom and Holland, just to name a few.

These days, the Association of Caribbean States has been injected with new dynamism and this is evident when we look at the results obtained in co-operation efforts. To date, we have achieved almost 45% of that generated over the last five years.

Mr. Carlos Dávila Sánchez is the Director of Natural Disasters and Transport of the Association of Caribbean States. The views expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Feedback can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org

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01 November, 2004