BRUSSELS, Feb 26, CMC – The European Union Friday signed an agreement on sustainable energy that is expected to benefit 22 Overseas Countries and Territories including those in the Caribbean, such as Montserrat and Anguilla.

European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, and President of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association and Prime Minister of Curaçao, Dr. Ben Whiteman signed the Joint Declaration on reinforced cooperation in the field of sustainable energy.

The signing took place in the the margins of the 14th annual EU–Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Forum and according to an EU statement “represents a significant political gesture, signalling the importance assigned to sustainable energy by both Overseas Countries and Territories and the EU”.

The Barbados-based European Union Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean, OECS, CARICOM and CARIFORUM, Mikael Barfod said “the oint Declaration represents an important step in our cooperation in sustainable energy in the Caribbean

“Its signature strengthens the links between energy policy commitments of Overseas Countries and Territories and the support that could be provided by the Union in the context of the Overseas Association Decision and the resources available via the 11th European Development Funds,” he added.

During the 14th OCT-EU Forum discussions focused on two major topics of mutual interest including the new global agreement on climate change reached in Paris on the 12th of December 2015, and the OCTs’ response efforts; as well as growth and investment opportunities in OCTs, which sits at the heart of OCTs’ sustainable development.

The EU has already agreed to allocate EUR 40 million (EC$139.3 million ) to finance sustainable energy and marine biodiversity projects in Caribbean OCTs.

The OCT-EU Forum represents the highest levels of political dialogue between the European Commission, Overseas Countries and Territories and EU member states to which OCTs are linked.

The statement said that the meeting allowed for “in-depth dialogue on topics of mutual interest and underlined their special relationship, their belonging to the same European family and common objectives, values and principles”.