France is an Associate Member of the ACS acting on behalf of its three overseas departments (DOMs), namely, Guadeloupe , French Guiana and Martinique . These three departments, aware of their geopolitical complexity (as they report to France although being located in the Caribbean region), have taken up the challenge to strengthen their ties with their regional neighbours. The European Commission approved this initiative in 2002 and in so doing, allocated a budget of 24 million euros so that the DOMs can fund their participation in regional co-operation initiatives. We note therefore that more and more ACS entities have partnership links with the European Union for matters of regional cooperation, which would, in the long term, contribute to the insertion of the economies of the Greater Caribbean into the globalised economy. Applying methods already in place in Europe , Interreg IIIB aims to support the sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean.

Being aware of this unique opportunity, as early as 2003 the DOMs have been looking for Greater Caribbean partners with whom to exchange expertise in areas as diverse as transport, natural disasters, tourism-based activities, networking institutions and new technologies, among others. The eligible zone of co-operation is very vast as it encompasses the French-, Spanish-, Dutch- and English-speaking territories. Consequently, in order to eliminate the language barrier, the programme has three Regional Contact Points (RCPs) in the English-speaking Caribbean (ACS, OECS and CARIFORUM), in addition to RCPs in Martinique and French Guiana . A Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) representing the three DOMs is located in Guadeloupe and is responsible for the technical and financial administration of co-operation projects within the programme.

The ACS, because of its vast scope of action in the Greater Caribbean, has been recognised as a partner institution of the Interreg IIIB “Caribbean Space” programme, and this enables it to assume three functions. It is a member of both the Steering Committee and the Follow-up Committee of the programme, and serves as an RCP. The role of the ACS as an RCP is first and foremost to provide technical assistance to all organisations that have ideas for projects in the Greater Caribbean and that are seeking a partner in the DOMs. It must also conduct activities related to the promotion of the programme. To date, the ACS Secretariat has provided information and/or technical assistance to various organisations likely to co-operate with the DOMs, such as the universities (UWI), trade organisations (Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association – TTMA; Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce – CAIC; Pro-Contact, etc.) and tourism bodies (Tourism & Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. – TIDCO).

This is the first programme of its kind in the Greater Caribbean and the ACS Secretariat is working on several co-operation projects that could be funded by this programme in 2005. Additional information on the Interreg programme can be obtained at the ACS or by visiting the site: www.interreg-caraibes.fr

Ms. Laurence Marianne is the Project Officer at the Special Fund Office 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

17 January, 2005