NATION NEWS
EU offers to help region
Published on: 3/9/07.

The European Union's willingness to assist with governance in the region was one of the main issues discussed recently when the Director General of the Europe Aid Cooperation Office (EuropeAid), Koos Richelle, called on Minister of Economic Affairs and Development Mia Mottley.
Koos Richelle, called
on Minister of Economic Affairs and Development Mia Mottley.

Welcoming the offer
of assistance in this area, Mottley suggested that
a regional approach
be undertaken rather than a national one,
since "there were some issues that could be more appropriately dealt with" at that level.

Noting that public sector strengthening
was one such issue, Mottley said that if appropriate training was provided for the 100 000 public servants in
the region, it "would
help in obtaining
good governance".

She recommended that the Caribbean Community Secretariat, the University of the West Indies and the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration be approached to assist with the training.

Regional approach

Richelle, who was
on a regional meeting
of Heads of Delegation
of the European Commission, agreed
that a regional approach might be more suitable since it would help
to "underpin crucial decisions with key national players".

Other areas discussed include the European Development Fund which provides Barbados with grant funding
and technical assistance, and the CARICOM Special Visa.

EuropeAid is responsible for implementing all external assistance outside of
the European Union.
It was established
in 2001.
(PR)