BRIEF
JAMAICA-EUROPEAN UNION CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME
BACKGROUND
Jamaica has been a signatory to the ACP-EU Partnership Agreements,
spanning a I most 3 0 years. Since the Lome I Convention signed in 1975
through to the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000, this partnership
represents perhaps one of the most enduring models of North-South
Cooperation, based on partnership and solidarity. The number of countries
signatory to the Agreements has grown from 46 ACP and 9 European
countries in 1975 to 77 ACP Countries and 15 European countries.
Through the various provisions under the Lome Conventions, ACP
Countries have benefited from non reciprocal preferential access to
European markets, and trade protocols for products such as sugar, rum,
rice and bananas. ACP Countries have also benefited from humanitarian
aid and development assistance under the European Development Fund
(EDF).
GOJ/EU CO-OPERATION
The EU is currently the largest provider of grant resources to Jamaica.
Total financial assistance from the EU to Jamaica since Lome I can
conservatively bee stimated at €710.0 million. The principal areas of cooperation
have been in roads and water infrastructure, agriculture, support
to the private sector and the macro economy. Jamaica has also benefited
from non-programmable resources of €96.0 million based on shortfalls in
export earnings from the mining sector (SYSMIN Facility for Mining
Products), €13.1 million for the agricultural sector (STAB EX) and €45.5
million in structural adjustment applied mainly to Support to the Economic
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Reform Programme (SERP).
As a member of the Forum of the Caribbean ACP States (CARjFORUM),
Jamaica has been a recipient of technical and financial assistance for
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tertiary education at the Universities of Technology and the West Indies,
tourism for the restoration of the Rodney Memorial in Spanish Town and
trade promotion through the Caribbean Export Programme. NonGovernmental
Organizations in Jamaica such as Children First,
Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights and Citizens Action for
Free and Fair Elections have received support for projects related to
HIV/AIDs and Human Rights and Democracy respectively.
Jamaica has also benefited from loans from the European Investment
Bank (EIB) in the amount of €213.0 million, for the development of the
transhipment ports in Montego Bay and Kingston, assistance to Cable &
Wireless, the Trafalgar and National Development Banks, Port Antonio
Marina and most recently, the development of the Port Antonio Water and
Sewerage system.
COTONOU AGREEMENT
The Cotonou Agreement which was signed in 2000, signals a new era of
relationship for the ACP-EU partnership and combines the political,
economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions of the
cooperation strategy to promote sustainable development and reduce
poverty. The Agreement mirrors the changing international environment,
which requires gradual removal of preferential market access, and the
introduction of reciprocity aimed at developing the capacity of ACP
countries in trade and for attracting private sector investment. The
partnership dialogue has been widened to include more direct involvement
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of civil society, in all aspects of programme/project identification,
development, implementation and monitoring.
Cotonou provides €25 billion globally from the 9th EDF for the period 2000-2007.
Jamaica's allocation from the financial protocol is €100 million to be utilised
broadly for two categories: Envelope A - of € 73 million to cover
macroeconomic support, road transport development and the private sector; and
Envelope B - € 27 million to cover unforeseen needs such as emergency
assistance, international debt relief, and the adverse effects of instability in export
earnings.
Jamaica remains eligible to access concetional loans through the Investment
Facility operated by the EIB, for risk capital and ordinary loans to the private
sector and commercially run public sector entities.
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