Heads of State and Government of CARICOM Member countries and the Head of Government of Spain met for a joint working meeting with the aim of reviewing political and economic issues as well as matters related to cooperation which affect both parties. At the end of the III CARICOM-Spain Summit, held in Madrid (Spain) on 10-11 May 2006, the following Joint Declaration was signed:
JOINT DECLARATION
1. POLITICAL DIALOGUE
The III Spain-CARICOM Summit is a demonstration of the excellent state of relations between both Parties, and represents the will to maintain a stable institutional framework for political dialogue, following on the I and II Summits held in Port of Spain in 1999 and Madrid in 2002.
It also constitutes a new thrust to the relations in the political and economic fields as well as the areas of cooperation for development and culture.
It is on another hand a symbol of the strategic decision on the part of Spain and the member countries of CARICOM to strengthen a stable relation of friendship, based on common values of respect for the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as the promotion of sustainable development for their citizens. It represents a decision to lay the foundations for a future strategic alliance based on mutual cooperation in a variety of areas.
A) European Union-Caribbean Relations
1) The Member States of CARICOM and Spain reaffirm the importance of the IV EU-LAC Summit which will be held in Vienna 12 to 13 May, following as it does the First Three Summits held in Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Guadalajara respectively, as a demonstration of the strategic association existing between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.
2) Spain and CARICOM, within the framework of economic and trade relations between the European Union (EU) and CARICOM, reiterate the commitments made in the Cotonou agreement as regards the political, economic and developmental dimensions of the EU/CARIFORUM/ACP relations. Spain expresses its will to follow with interest the position of the countries of CARICOM on sensitive issues such as the effects of the reform of the sugar sector, preferential access to Caribbean banana and projects and programs maintained by the EU in those countries.
3) In addition, both Parties confirm their desire that the Economic Partnership Agreements negotiations between the EU and the countries of the Caribbean, with the development dimension being an integral part of those Agreements, proceed at a good pace and they also agreed to follow closely the future EDF, aimed at providing adequate funding to adjust to the reforms introduced.
4) The Member States of CARICOM and Spain declare their special interest in the current regional integration processes in Europe and the Caribbean, specifically the CARICOM Single Market (CSM) which entered into force on 1 January 2006 and which is a milestone in the region’s economic and social integration.
B) Bilateral and multilateral relations
1) Spain and CARICOM reaffirm their commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, multilateralism as an inspiring principle for international relations, as well as the fight against terrorism in all forms, in accordance with the principles of International Law.
2) Both Parties reiterate their commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and the universality of these rights and support the efforts of the United Nations and the OAS in this area. The Parties expressed interest in membership of the new United Nations Council on Human Rights for the 2009 – 2011 period.
3) The Member States of CARICOM and Spain underscore their commitment to the effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, in the fight against poverty and the defence and protection of natural resources, biodiversity and the environment in general.
4) Spain declares its willingness to concern itself with the agenda of the Small Developing States, within the framework of global sustainable development.
5) Spain recognizes the importance of an Agenda for Small States within the international arena and expresses its willingness to advance, as far as possible, the interest of CARICOM in this regard.
6) Both parties are pleased with the great progress in bilateral and multilateral relations, for the development of joint programs and projects, as well as for the investment process taking place in the region, especially in the tourism sector, and which will undoubtedly contribute to the strengthening of economic and trade relations between both Parties.
7) Spain is committed to collaborate with CARICOM in its efforts to advance its regional integration mechanisms, in particular the full entry into force of the CSM. To that end it will lend its support in exchanging mutual experiences in that regard. Spain specifically offers its collaboration to CARICOM to achieve the establishment of the CARICOM Regional Development Fund which complements the operations of the Common Market.
8) Both Parties reaffirm the importance accorded to the intensification of bi-regional political and economic dialogue between the Iberoamerican Community and CARICOM, united by their geographical proximity and their common interests, and commit themselves to supporting the institutionalization of mechanisms related to that relationship, particularly through the General Secretariat of the Iberoamerican Community, headquartered in Madrid, and other regional cooperation institutions.
9) Both Parties are pleased with the recent electoral process in Haiti and are committed to supporting that country’s return to full democratic institutional normality, and its complete reincorporation within CARICOM. Both Parties will jointly explore the possibility of collaborating on projects to achieve that goal. Both parties underlined the need for the continuing financial and other forms of support from the international community to consolidate the democratic gains made and to ensure the political and economic stabilization of Haiti
10) The Governments of Spain and the Member States of CARICOM are pleased with the level of agreement reached within the United Nations, especially on the issue of institutional reform and the reciprocal support in its various organs. Both Parties reaffirm their commitment to consensus as a basic principle for any reform which may affect the United Nations organs, and which facilitate their efficient and democratic functioning.
11) Spain and the Member States of CARICOM reaffirm their commitment to the fight against organized crime, terrorism, trafficking in drugs and small arms and all forms of violence, threats which affect all countries, and they express their intention to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms in this area.
12) Spain is favourable to the signature of cooperation agreements between the respective security forces and the exchange of experiences in sectors such as the security of tourist areas. It will explore, in this regard, the possible accreditation of a Security Attaché in the region.
13) Spain expresses its deep gratitude for the support of the countries of CARICOM to the International Expo which will be held in Zaragoza in 2008. Both Parties are pleased with the existence of a common CARICOM Pavilion at that event and welcomes the offer of financial and technical assistance extended to CARICOM.
14) The Heads of State and of Government of CARICOM and Spain support the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative within the framework of United Nations efforts, as an instrument for cooperation between peoples and to surmount confrontations based on religious or cultural differences. Spain agrees to organize a Seminar on the Alliance of Civilizations in the near future in a CARICOM country, to be named, with the cooperation of the Governments in the region, the CARICOM Secretariat and institutions within civil society.
15) The countries of CARICOM and Spain are pleased with the imminent opening of a third permanent diplomatic representation in the regions, specifically an Embassy of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, as an illustration of the strategic importance which Spanish foreign policy accords to the Member States of CARICOM.
16) They are also pleased with the high level meetings that have been held in recent times such as the visit of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Latin American and Caribbean Affairs to a number of countries in the region in October 2005, and express their intention to continue and increase the number of high level visits and meetings within both a bilateral and multilateral framework.
II. ECONOMIC RELATIONS
1) The Member States of CARICOM and Spain reaffirm their commitment to secure and just international relations based on development cooperation and free trade, on WTO rules and the free movement of capital, as well as the establishment of a mechanism which allows for the integration of small states in global markets.
2) Both Parties declare their support for sustainable economic development in the CARICOM and express their intention to explore cooperation mechanisms with the Caribbean Development Bank, and the CARICOM Regional Development Fund established by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
3) Spain and the Member States of CARICOM declare their intention to increase trade and investment exchanges.
4) Both Parties advocate the rational use of energy resources and will explore the possibility of collaborating to execute joint projects which favour the use of renewable energy.
5) Both Parties are committed to continue in their support of the current investment process taking place in the region, in particular in Jamaica, in the tourism sector. In this regard, they will favourably consider the expansion of the current process to new countries and sectors, with the aim of contributing to the economic development of the receiving countries and the creation of employment.
6) Conscious of the growing importance of sustainable tourism and the wide experience of Spain and the Member States of CARICOM in this field, both Parties will exchange their respective experiences to achieve a comprehensive development of this sector.
7) In those CARICOM countries where Spanish interests are present, Spain is committed to studying the financing of feasibility studies undertaken by Spanish companies in sectors of joint interest, preferably in the tourism and renewable energy sectors up to a maximum of five hundred thousand euros, charged to the Feasibility Studies Funds account.
8) Spain agrees to study the possibility of closer future collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank and supports the admission in that institution of the European Investment Bank. CARICOM welcomes the initiative of Spain to contribute to the Special Development Fund of the Caribbean Development Bank as a first step towards becoming a member of that institution.
III. CULTURAL AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
1) The Member States of CARICOM and Spain declare their intention to hold a meeting of the Joint Commission this year, as provided for in the Scientific and Technical Agreement in force between both Parties. The meeting of the Joint Commission will provide the framework to design and coordinate the different development cooperation programs and projects that will be implemented during the next four years and it will help to strengthen and deepen the cooperation among the Member States of CARICOM and Spain.
2) The Parties, placing emphasis on the Fight against Poverty, the Economic Growth and the Social Development, aim to focus on Cooperation as a priority in the areas of Democratic Governance, Citizen Participation and Institutional Development and the Promotion of Economic and Business Programs, in particular, Tourism. They also highlight other sectors for preferential intervention such as the Coverage of Social Needs, the Environment, in particular, Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation , Culture and Development and the Empowerment and Self Sufficiency of Women.
3) The Member States of CARICOM and Spain reaffirm the importance of the teaching of Spanish as the primary second language in the Caribbean, a region with strong historical and cultural links with Spain and in proximity to Spanish speaking countries. The countries of CARICOM reaffirm their commitment to the execution of plans for the teaching of Spanish at pre-university levels.
4) Both Parties agree to study areas of cooperation on this matter, such as the creation of the posts of Lecturers of Spanish within the framework of AECI programs, the preparation of a joint Action Plan for the promotion of the language, courses and training seminars, specializations and updating of teachers of Spanish, scholarship programs and any other cultural activity which contribute to the encouragement of the links and cultural and educational exchanges between both regions.
5) CARICOM welcomed the creation by Spain of the posts of Lecturers in St. Kitts and Nevis and in Antigua and Barbuda, additional to those already existing in Barbados, Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
III. TOWARDS THE IV CARICOM-SPAIN SUMMIT
Spain and the countries of CARICOM express their satisfaction with the process towards the institutionalization of dialogue between both Parties with the holding so far of three Summits, agreeing to intensify and strengthen their contacts in appropriate fora.
The Heads of State and of Government of CARICOM and the President of the Government of Spain agree to continue with this strategic and exceptional relation, committing themselves to convening a IV Summit at a venue and date to be decided by mutual agreement.
Palacio de la Moncloa
Madrid, Spain
11 May 2006
