BRIEFING NOTES FOR HPM
Luncheon Meeting with
Representatives of the European Union
1 998 March 25
A. Post Lome ' Arrangements
1 . HPM in his introductory remarks may wish to
emphasise the vital importance which Jamaica and
other Caribbean ACP countries attach to relations
with the European Union, which remains the largest
source of development aid to the region and the
second largest market for the Caribbean.
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2. Against this background, HPM may wish to refer to
the series of preparatory meetings being held at the
level of CARICOM/CARIFORUM to define the
region's approach for the upcoming negotiations on
a successor arrangement to the Lome' Convention.
In this connection, mention could be made of the
planned ACP Council and ACP/EU Joint Council
meetings to be held in Barbados 1998 May 5-8, at
which it is hoped that some common elements can
be agreed to as a basis for commencing the formal
negotiations in September.
3. HPM may further wish to indicate4 his intention to
have the presence of the Chief Negotiator at these
meetings to carry out informal follow-up
consultations with other ACP as well as EU
colleagues.
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4. HPM may also wish to use the opportunity to draw
attention to the key decisions emanating from the
recently concluded lnter-Sessional Meeting of
CARICOM Heads of Government at which he
played a major role as Chairman of the Prime
Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Negotiations.
In particular, mention could be made of the
following:
■ that, having regard to the major changes in
the approach reflected in the Draft
Guidelines for the EU Negotiating Mandate
for Post Lome ' Arrangements, agreement
was reached for an early encounter
between Caribbean heads and their
European counterparts
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■ agreement was also reached for early
encounter between the Caribbean and
other ACP countries
■ Heads also confirmed visits to a number of
European capitals which have been assigned
among Member States. To date, the Prime
Minister of Dominica has visited Sweden
(March 18) and the Prime Minister of
Trinidad and Tobago has accepted an
invitation from his French counterpart for
the end of March. HPM schedule of visits
to key European capitals planned for June,
could be mentioned here. It could be
pointed out that visits by Heads will also
include calls on European Commissioners
and their senior officials
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5. While detailed analysis of the Commission's
Guidelines is still being undertaken, HPM may
nevertheless wish to use the occasion to express the
Caribbean's grave misgivings and concerns on the
following:
i. the evident unilateralism in the approach
taken in respect of the treatment of issues
relating to human rights democracy, the
rule of law and good governance
ii. the propose FT As with each region which
runs counter to the cohesiveness and
solidarity of the ACP as a single entity
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Although not reflected in the Commission's
Draft Directives, HPM may wish to bear in
mind, the region's concerns with regard to the
apparent new tendency in Europe towards
including issues relating to the death penalty and
homosexual rights within the ambit of human
rights concerns.
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B. Bananas
1 . HPM may wish to advise that Bananas would be one
of the issues to be pursued by Prime Minister on
their visits to European capitals.
2. In connection . with the above, HPM may wish to
refer to the concerns of the Caribbean relating to the
recently published proposals by the Commission
concerning the modifications to the EU Banana
Import Regime, in particular the following:
■ the absence of country-specific quotas for the
ACP allocation of 857,000 tonnes
■ the abolition of the Licensing Regime in favour
of a Traditional/New Comer system and how
this aspect of the Regime would be administered
to take into account smaller producing countries
like Jamaica.
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3. HPM may wish to emphasise that in the true spirit of ·
Article 1 of Protocol 5 of the Convention, any
amended regime should ensure that the Caribbean
and other ACP countries "are not placed in a less
favourable situation than in the past or at present"
4. HPM may wish to indicate that the Caribbean and
other ACP countries are anticipating an arrangement
which could endure beyond the year 2 000 on the
basis of future market access and on favourable
economic returns.
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C. Jamaica's Application for Inclusion on the Approved Third
Country List Authorised to Export Live Animals, Meat, Fish,
Milk and their Products to the EU
1 . HPM may wish to use the opportunity to raise
Jamaica's concern regarding its outstanding
application submitted to the European Commission
in February 1997, for inclusion in its Approved List
of Third Countries authorised to export live animals,
meat, fish, milk and their products to the EU.
The Commission has introduced stringent measures
to regulate the importation of these products into
the EU in 1995, as well as carrying out the
necessary national legislative procedures for trade in
these products. In addition, a plethora of data has
been forwarded to the Commission to meet the
necessary criteria, but this has not resulted in any
positive steps to have Jamaica included on the
Approved List.
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3. The latest information from our Mission in Brussels,
indicates that in the case of milk/milk products and
meat/meat products, a Veterinary Mission visit from ·
the EU will be required before the application can be
considered.
4. With regard to Conch, further supplementary
information is required and this is currently being
prepared by the Veterinary Division of the Ministry
of Agriculture. It will be recalled that in July 1997,
a temporary ban was placed on Jamaica's conch
exports to the EU as we failed to meet the necessary
health requirements. Jamaica earns approximately
US$11.15 million from conch exports each year.
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. 5. HPM may wish to note that the French Government has
offered to support Jamaica in this exercise and is
working assiduously to have Jamaica included on the
Approved List, so that conch exports to Martinique
may resume.
6. In view of the foregoing, HPM may wish to refer to
the recent visit to Brussels of HMOS Hylton, where
he used the opportunity to meet with the relevant
EU Commissioners to discuss the matter.
7. In underscoring the importance of a speedy and
positive response to Jamaica's application, HPM may
also wish to point out that at a time when Jamaica's
traditional exports to the EU are under pressure due
to imminent post Lome' arrangements, and the
implication for the removal of preferences, Jamaica
would want to ensure that its non-traditional
products have a secured market
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.. ..
D. Ratification of the Amendment to the Fourth Lome '
Convention
1 . The slow pace of ratification of the amendment to
the Fourth Lome' Convention signed in Mauritius in
November 1995, is another concern which HPM
may wish to raise with EU representatives. ACP
countries have already fulfilled their requirements for
the ratification process, but so far, only eleven ( 11 )
EU Member States have ratified. It is understood
that the remaining countries (France, Belgium,
Netherlands and Greece) may not be in a position to
ratify before August this year.
2. In this regard, HPM may wish to point to the
correlation between timely conclusion of the ratification
process and disbursement of funds under the 8th
European Development Fund, delay of which will affect
the implementation of much needed projects in the
island.
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