Caribbean Leaders reach Brussels to attend EU-CELAC Summit 2023

The Head of the Caribbean States will be attending the EU-CELAC Summit 2023 from July 17 to 18, 2023, in Brussels.

This year’s Summit will be co-chaired by the European Union President, Charles Michel and St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. As per the reports, the meeting will be attended by the Caribbean leaders, Heads of the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Reportedly, the world leaders will be discussing some major global issues such as Confronting Climate Change: Towards a Fair and Sustainable Transition; Fair and Inclusive Digital Transformation: Bridging Digital Gaps and Fostering Research and Innovation; Citizen Security, Justice, Fighting Transnational Organized Crime; and Trade, Sustainable Development and Economic Recovery in the Post-Pandemic Period.

As per the update, the Caribbean leaders reached Brussels on July 16, 2023.

According to the update by the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has landed in the European country along with his delegation. It is anticipated that PM Skerrit will discuss the topics in cooperation with the Heads of OECS.

Reportedly, Minister of Health, Wellness and Social Services Cassanni Laville will act as Acting Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Along with him, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves and his delegation arrived in Brussels ahead of the EU-CELAC Summit. Aside from the Summit, a number of bilateral meetings will take place.

The Vincentian delegation is expected to attend an EU-LAC Business Round Table Opening Reception at Belvue Museum on July 16, 2023 (Sunday). Foreign Affairs Minister – Keisal Peters, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Angie Williams-Jackson, and Ambassador Dr Douglas Slater are among the other members of the Prime Minister’s delegation who will attend the EU-CELAC Business Round Table Opening Reception.

According to further reports, the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his delegation have also arrived in Brussels, Belgium, to participate in the III EU-CELAC Summit 2023 and in the People’s Summit that will take place in parallel.

The EU-CELAC Summit should be an opportunity to further strengthen strategic bi-regional relations and share commitments based on the international order. Leaders are expected to refer to greater cooperation in multilateral forums; global peace and stability; trade and investment; economic recovery; efforts to combat climate change; research and innovation; justice and security for citizens.

In addition to this, the reports claim that the Prime Minister of the twin-island Federation of St Kitts and Nevis – Dr Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of Barbados – Mia Amor Mottley, President of the Republic of Guyana – Irfaan Ali, and other Caribbean leaders will be part of Summit.

It is highly anticipated that this EU-CELAC Summit will act as a catalyst in strengthening the relationships between both regions.