RELATIONS WITH THE EU
The European Union and Jamaica
A strong EU - Jamaica partnership is crucial to building a more democratic, secure and prosperous world.
Political Relations
Political relations between Jamaica and the EU centre around various agreements:
The African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP) EU Partnership Agreement is the most comprehensive partnership agreement between developing countries and the EU. It focuses on development cooperation, political cooperation, and economic and trade cooperation.
Paris Declaration is a roadmap to improve the quality of aid and its impact on development.
Jamaica also participates in the EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summits that take place every other year.
Economic Relations
As a member of the CARICOM and the CARIFORUM Group of Countries, Jamaica is part of the CARIFORUM - European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that was signed in 2008.
For Jamaica, the EPA has made it easier for people and businesses from the two regions to invest in and trade with each other. This has enhanced the country’s economic performance and created jobs.
The Cotonou Agreement brought about a new era of economic cooperation between the EU and Jamaica. It has helped to increase macroeconomic support and improved governance.
GLOBAL GATEWAY
The Global Gateway is the European Union’s strategy to promote sustainable development by boosting smart, clean and secure transitions in the digital, energy and transport sectors, and strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. It aims to mobilise some €300 billion in investments.
Through a 'Team Europe approach', Global Gateway will bring together the EU, its Member States and their financial and development institutions to mobilise the private sector to leverage investments for a transformational impact.
The EU in Jamaica is working on three flagship initiatives in key sectors under the Global Gateway banner:
Digital Transition: Aimed at improving Jamaica’s connectivity infrastructure, ICT skills, digitalisation of businesses, and establishing a fair competitive telecom market. This includes investing in secure networks and technologies, powering Jamaica’s digital transition and paving the way for access to fibre (BELLA) and secure 5G deployment. This aligns with Jamaica’s Vision 2030 and EU’s commitment in the EU-US Trade Technology Council (TTC) as well as EU priority at the regional level in the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, where Jamaica co-leads the Caribbean sub-working group.
Climate Change Adaptation: (i) Enabling the creation of a Green Bonds market under the Global Green Bond Initiative (GGBI), including supporting the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) through training (taxonomy, issuance) and de-risking the issuance of green bonds.
(ii) Investing in an open electricity market to develop a modern and resilient energy infrastructure for European companies that support Jamaica’s energy transition (targeting 50% renewable energy by 2030).
(iii) Developing a new water treatment plant through a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement between the National Water Commission (NWC) and VINCI (FR) to meet the demand for water in the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA), Portmore and Spanish Town. Co-financed by an EU Development Financial Institution, PROPARCO, the plant, which is expected to be the second largest in Jamaica, will supply 15 million gallons of water to benefit approximately 150,000 customers.
Green Logistics Hub: Investing in infrastructure works and regulatory reforms to boost the Kingston Harbour and transform it into a world-class hub for private sector investments, in line with the requirements to become a Green Port and a key junction in the Global Green Shipping Corridor. The ultimate goal is to develop Kingston Harbour into a comprehensive logistics hub, incorporating integrated value chains, transshipment, green initiatives, Business Process Outsourcing, an e-commerce postal hub, warehousing, and Special Economic Zones.
By promoting investments in hard infrastructure and advancing sustainable development in the above sectors, the Global Gateway seeks to create lasting benefits for Jamaica and Jamaicans and support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, both in Jamaica and in Europe.
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