MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' review relationship with European Union

Cllr. Summers: Islands face a difficult proposition vis-a-vis EU

Falkland Islands Councillors along with representatives of other countries and Overseas Territories recently met to discuss the composition of a paper reviewing their relationship with the European Union.

Speaking to MercoPressCouncillor Mike Summers admitted it was "difficult proposition" for British Territories in that "we have a much more devolved power than for example French or Dutch Overseas Territories," therefore to seek a closer relationship with the EU runs contrary to the concept of seeking a more distant relationship from Britain. Because of this British Territories have been considering, "â€Ã‚¦what is in our collective interests." The recent EU-OCTA meeting itself (held 26th to 29th November) was attended by Councillors Andrea Clausen and Mike Summers and EU Policy Officer Jenny Smith. A press release from Gilbert House in Stanley noted, "The agenda was broad covering a range of topics such as the future EU-OCT relationship, trade and regional integration, rules of origin, the environment and financial services. The Falklands delegation took an active role in most areas in particular those relating to the future relationship between the EU and the OCT's, environmental issues and trade. It goes on, "It has been agreed that a Green paper on the relationship between the EU and the Overseas Countries and Territories post 2013 be composed. "The reasons for this review are largely based on the gap between the theoretical and the practical, even though the current Overseas Association Decision carves out a clear relationship by which the OCT's should derive certain privileges these have in fact been eroded as a result of globalisation and in particular the establishment of trade agreements between the EU and most of the rest of the world." It states that OCTs have concerns in that they are currently treated in a similar fashion to ACP's (African, Caribbean, Pacific countries) which are treated in a manner of combating poverty. The Commission does not consider this is appropriate for OCT's. They would like to bring the OCT's closer into the EU, whilst at the same time recognising that OCT's themselves have an important role to play by virtue of their geographical locations and being part of the EU "family" they promulgate the EU into their regions. A legislative proposal on the relationship is to be made within the remit of the Treaty of Rome and is to take effect from 2014 onwards. The green paper is to be produced in early 2008 and then consulted upon towards the end of 2008. Councillor Andrea Clausen states, "Until recently it was not clear whether or not OCT's could access only Development funds (EDF) from within the European Commission, or whether there were other budget lines which were available to them. It is now clear that OCT's can indeed access some of the Community Programmes such as Education and Training, the 7th Research Framework Programme and Cultural and Audio-visual programmes." The environmental workshops proposed for 2007 which were postponed due to technical financial complications are planned to go ahead in early 2008. The statement says there is opportunity for relevant officers within each OCT to attend these workshops which will be on waste management, renewable energy, natural hazards and risk management, and Environmental Impact Assessments. As OCTA are entitled to attend the UN Climate Change conference as an observer, and given that the main aim of the conference held in Bali over the last 2 weeks is to set out a road map going forward post 2012, members decided that it would be appropriate to send someone and so Vaia Tuuhia, a member of the French Polynesian delegation, who sits on the Environmental PWP, attended on behalf of OCTA. OCT's were updated on the position of trade negotiations with the ACP's (African, Caribbean, Pacific countries). The reform of the Rules of Origin for ACP's have not yet been completed and will not be in time for the implementation of the new trade agreements on January 1, 2008. The establishment of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA's) is at various stages with one in Eastern Africa just established. The process for OCT's to join these EPA's has yet to be established. The results of the impact studies of Rules of Origin in OCT's carried out by the Commission and the Partner Working Party have yet to be published. The Falklands position was yet again put to the Commission and during the Ministerial we were informed that we had received a further derogation from crew requirements until 2012. The point was made that by restricting quotas to levels previously granted the Commission was potentially stifling the very development it seeks to facilitate within the OAD. A response is expected in due course. It has been proposed that given the level of work now involved in facilitating the existence of OCTA that a permanent secretariat be established. Funding to for this is to be sought from the Technical Support Fund of the 10th EDF. By Lisa Johnston – SeAledPR - Stanley