Commissioner Nielson to visit Jamaica

Mr. Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, will visit Jamaica from 15 to 16 April 2004. The visit will be an opportunity to review progress and achievements in EU - Jamaica development co-operation. On the 16 April Commissioner Nielson will be joining Commissioner Pascal Lamy for the official launch in Kingston of the negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and 16 Caribbean countries.

During his bilateral visit Commissioner Nielson will meet Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Mr. K.D. Knight, and Minister of Finance and National Authorising Officer for the European Development Fund, Dr. Omar Davies. These meetings will give Commissioner Nielson an opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by Jamaica in its efforts to stabilise the fiscal deficit and to stimulate economic growth. There will also be an exchange of views on current regional matters.

The visit will be an occasion to review progress in the implementation of EU-Jamaica Development Cooperation, notably under the Country Support Strategy (CSS) and National Indicative Programme (NIP) for the 9th European Development Fund (EDF). In addition to the ongoing cooperation under previous NIP, the EC has allocated € 100 million to Jamaica for the period 2002 - 2007. Key areas of co-operation under the 9h EDF include budget support, private sector development, road transport development for secondary and tertiary roads and poverty alleviation through community-driven small-scale projects. Commissioner Nielson will have the opportunity to obtain a first-hand appreciation of the implementation of one of the community-driven projects when visiting the Water and Sanitation Project funded under the EU's Poverty Reduction Programme in the community of Whitfield town. He will also have an exchange of views on EU - Jamaica development cooperation with local non-State actors.

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