MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands’ delegation at annual OCT’s forum for closer links with European Union

MLA Roger Edwards said the Islands are interested in the formation of an All Party Falkland Islands Group within the European Parliament

A Falkland Islands delegation is on its way to Brussels for the annual Forum for Overseas Countries & Territories of the European Union, which will be attended by representatives of all 21 EU Overseas Countries & Territories, reports the Falklands Legislative Assembly

The Falklands’ delegation is led by Legislative Assembly member Roger Edwards, who is the portfolio holder for EU affairs, Ms Sukey Cameron, Falkland Islands Government official representative in London and Michael Poole, Senior Economist and Statistical Analyst.

The annual four day event, from March 23 to 26, is arranged and paid by the EU. Among the issues to be discussed is the new “Overseas Association Decision” which governs the relationship between the EU and its Overseas Countries & Territories and expires 2013, collect resources assigned to the Falkland Islands under the current European Development Fund round and political contacts with members of the European Parliament for the formation of an All Party Falkland Islands Group within the European Parliament.

MLA Edwards said before his departure on Friday, “I am looking forward to an interesting and fruitful series of meetings. There are four main reasons why the Falkland Islands send representatives to the Forum. First: to enhance communication between the EU and the OCTs; second, to achieve a clearer understanding amongst OCTs about the financial assistance available from the Tenth European Development Fund; third, to promote the economic and social development and self-reliance of OCTs within the global economy, and finally, to ensure better co-operation and co-ordination on sustainable development strategies suitable for OCTs”.

He added “I will also be attending an event organised by the European Parliament for OCT representatives, at which I look forward to repeating our right of self-determination and our right to peacefully exploit our natural resources within and under the seas surrounding our islands. The Falkland Islands Government is keen to engage with MEPs to gauge the level of interest in the formation of an All Party Falkland Islands Group within the European Parliament.

“Along with my colleagues I have a number of side meetings arranged, to co-ordinate payment by the European Commission to the Falkland Islands Government of the € 4.13 million assigned to the Falkland Islands under the current European Development Fund round. The Falkland Islands are very fortunate to have benefited from funding from the European Union over the past decade, and we have a responsibility to ensure the money is used wisely for the long-term benefit of all.”

According to Gilbert House the first day of the Forum is devoted to a Trade Workshop, focused on trade issues between the European Union and its Overseas Countries & Territories.

Falklands’ representatives will be giving a presentation on Rules of Origin issues, the rules governing the importation of tariff-free goods into European Union member states from the Overseas Countries & Territories.

The Annual General Meeting of the Overseas Countries & Territories Association is held the following day. The final two days comprise a series of meetings covering a wide range of issues, from trade and development funding, to environmental and political issues, and are attended by European Commission officials and representatives of those countries with overseas territories (Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom).

This year’s Forum also provides an opportunity for the Overseas Countries & Territories Association to put its views forward on the new ‘Overseas Association Decision’, which is the document that governs the relationship between the European Union and its Overseas Countries & Territories. The current decision expires in 2013, and a new decision is to be drafted over the next 18 months in consultation among the European Commission, the 27 European Union members states and the 21 Overseas Countries & Territories.

Prior to travelling to Brussels on 22nd March, Mr Edwards, together with Mr Drew Irvine of the Falkland Islands Vessel Owners Association, will be meeting with representatives of the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss Rules of Origin issues for the Falkland Islands fishing industry and to lobby the British government to support the Falkland Islands Government’s position. The following week, on 30th March, Mr Edwards is also due to visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for a general discussion on Falklands’ issues.