EU reaffirms commitment at Europe Day celebration in Barbados

Representatives of the European Union (EU) in Barbados hosted a reception on Friday to commemorate Europe Day, celebrating the anniversary of the declaration that laid the foundation for what would become the European Union.

The event took place at the residence of Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska, Head of the EU Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, and CARICOM/CARIFORUM.

Head of the EU Delegation in Barbados, Malgorzata Wasilewska.

This year’s celebration carried added significance as it was the last time Ambassador Wasilewska would preside over the annual observance.

Reflecting on the longstanding relationship between the EU and Barbados, the ambassador noted that the two will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations next year.

“We are in a great place, but I do hope that in the years to come you will make this relationship even stronger and more beneficial for you and that we will see more students studying in Europe, more lecturers coming on exchange programmes and closer relationships between our regions,” she said.

Touching on current global tensions, Wasilewska emphasised the EU’s origins and ongoing mission as a force for peace.

“Europe was a peace project; Europe is a peace project. We all know how precious peace is. You know how vulnerable we feel today with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat to our own borders. Europe is struggling with its own defence,” she noted.

Despite global challenges, the ambassador reaffirmed the EU’s strong ties to the region and highlighted shared values and collaborative efforts.

“We share incredible values; we share principles of democracy very strongly. I think we are in a very good place in many areas. We work very well on renewable energy, on digitalisation, we work through our global gateway investment agenda on trying to bring investment from Europe.”

She also pointed to a plastics recycling initiative as an example of impactful EU-backed projects in the Caribbean.

“We are very proud of these investments. Hopefully, they will help to not only transfer technology and create jobs [but] create benefits for the people of this region,” she said.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Joy Ann Skinner.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Joy-Ann Skinner, expressed appreciation for the EU’s ongoing support.

“We are grateful for your continued support, especially during times of global uncertainty,” she said.

Skinner also highlighted the importance of Barbados’ global advocacy efforts, noting that Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerry Symmonds, would be attending international meetings focused on trade reform.

“It is imperative that we continue to engage in dialogue and foster mutual understanding as the most effective means of addressing the challenges before us,” she remarked.

Citing the Bridgetown Initiative championed by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Skinner stressed the urgent need for reforms to global financial systems that better serve vulnerable nations.

“Through the Bridgetown Initiative, Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, has called for a reform of the global financial architecture to better serve the needs of vulnerable nations. Climate finance, debt sustainability and equitable access to development funding are not abstract concepts for us, they are fundamental to our survival,” she said.

“We can’t afford a world where small island states and developing countries are left to drown in debt and in the case of small island developing states, rising oceans,” she added. (STT)