MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Overseas territories angry and frustrated by European Union
Falkland Islands Legislative Council Member, Mike Summers, spoke Wednesday of the anger and frustration expressed by delegates at the recent European Union's Overseas Countries and Territories Conference recently held in Greenland, which he attended with fellow councillor Dr. Richard Davies.
According to Councillor Summers, who was speaking on Falklands Radio, the focus for the discontent felt by delegates from French, Dutch and Danish overseas territories, as well as British, was the failure of the European Commission to deliver funds promised under a number of schemes including the 9th European Development Fund (EDF)
"The Commission apologised profusely once again for failing to have delivered the funds they have committed to the overseas territories" explained Summers, who went on to say that the Commission had given a number of explanations for this failure, which were understandable, but "not our problem".
Fortunately in the case of the Falkland Islands, said Summers "we are just about there". The Finance Agreement with the Falklands has been agreed and is about to be signed, enabling the draw down of the first tranche of the three million euros that the Falklands are due from the 9th EDF. Councillor Summers said that he thought the Falklands should also be able to draw down the remaining funds due under the European Union's STABEX Fund, which amount to about 2.5 million euros.
The relationship between the European Union and its overseas territories is covered by a decision, which has a seven-year life. Councillor Summers explained that with the current seven-year period being half-way through, a mid-term review had been taking place. It was clear, he said, that in several aspects of the relationship such as EDF and the allocation of funds the European Union had done "rather badly" as they had in choosing between project assistance and budget support.
Councillor Summers also claimed that there had not been enough done to compensate the overseas territories for the loss of the advantage of tariff and duty free access caused by the European Union making free trade agreements with other countries. This had caused the competitive position of the overseas territories in the European market to be eroded.
There had been much discussion at the Conference, said Summers, on what the future relationship between Europe and the overseas territories would be. This came down to whether the overseas territories would continue to be "preferred partners of the EU" or simply regarded like other Third World territories and treated accordingly.
The very strong view amongst the overseas territories expressed at the Conference, said the Falklands' Representative, was that they did have a relationship with the European Union through their member states and that they should be treated better than they are.
John Fowler (Mercopress) Stanley
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