RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The European Union and Guyana
In June 2000, Guyana signed up to the Cotonou Agreement – a treaty between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, otherwise known as the ACP countries. The agreement focuses on three main areas:
- Development cooperation.
- Political cooperation.
- Economic and trade cooperation.
SAMOA AGREEMENT
In June 2024, Guyana signed on to the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) - European Union (EU) Partnership Agreement, known as the "Samoa Agreement". This landmark agreement succeeds the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, signed in 2000, and will govern relations among the signatories for the next twenty years. Negotiations concluded in December 2020, and the agreement entered into force provisionally in January 2024.
This new Agreement equips the Parties to better address emerging needs and global challenges, including climate change, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development, migration, health, and peace and security.
Guyana's economy depends on commodity exports such as gold, diamonds and bauxite, sugar, rice, fish and other non-traditional agricultural products. The economy is vulnerable to fluctuations in both levels of sugar production and commodity prices. Environmental management is one of Guyana's key priorities. The impact of climate change is already being felt. Rising sea levels affect coastal areas where most of the economic activity takes place.
Our priorities
Our main partnership agreements with Guyana include the Cotonou Agreement, and the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Our support is currently provided under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) National Indicative Programme (NIP) for 2014-2020. The priorities include:
Enhancing Guyana's protection against sea damage through sea defences and integrated coastal management, with benefits to the population and economic activity in low-lying parts of the coastal regions.
Improving Guyana's upper stream catchment areas management to strengthen flood control and prevention capacities, through new dams, embankments and drainage canals to strengthen the cost recovery system for rehabilitation and maintenance.
Our programmes
The current programming period (2014-2020) for the 11th EDF allocated €34 million to continue supporting Guyana's climate change adaptation capacity through strengthening key infrastructures for sea defences and flood prevention, while ensuring adequate river and coastal management. This will benefit the population and economic activity in low-lying parts of the coastal regions.
As a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Forum of the Caribbean Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM), Guyana benefits from regional programmes funded under the Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes.
Guyana is also a signatory of the EU-Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), a comprehensive free trade agreement with a strong focus on development.