Guyana now ready to sign new...

international level, including on new challenges in international settings. They reaffirmed their commitment to the continuation and further enhancement of collaboration between Guyana and the European Union,” it said.

The joint statement said, “Both sides acknowledged the transition from the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, which ended on 31 December 2023, and discussed Guyana’s accession to its successor - the Samoa Agreement.”

Further, it pointed out that “Minister Hugh Todd underscored the importance of the relationship between the European Union and Guyana and reiterated Guyana’s unwavering commitment to enhancing collaboration in the areas of climate change, energy, security, people-topeople ties, and trade. He also noted the European Union’s pivotal role as a key developmental partner for Guyana.”

At the press conference, the EU Ambassador had expressed optimism that this country’s signature will be added as it sought answers to concerns before ratification.

“At this moment, 64 countries have signed. Until now Guyana has not yet done that but we have very positive indications that Guyana will favourably sign,” he said.

“They had some concerns, and it is good that they take their time and look at that and they sign things only when they are comfortable. So we are talking about those issues that they would like clarified. And I am quite positive that that indeed will lead into a signature of Guyana,” he added.

At a time when Guyana needs the support of many global partners to rally behind it, in the face of heightened Venezuelan aggression and the border controversy matter which is before the International Court of Justice, this country said that it wants especially, the issue of the treatment of migrants cleared before joining the 79-member-country agreement.

The Cotonou Agreement was due to expire on 29 February, 2020, but it was extended temporarily to no later than 31 October, 2023, pending adoption of a new agreement.

“The multiple negotiation levels, the coronavirus crisis, and difficulties in reaching agreement on sensitive issues, such as migration management and sexual and reproductive health and rights, prevented the new agreement from being finalised by the initial expiry date set in the Cotonou Agreement,” the EU Parliament said on its website.

“… The Samoa Agreement is based on six key priorities: human rights, democracy and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and migration and mobility. The EU and the OACPS agreed on the principle of a common foundation complemented by three regional protocols for African, Caribbean, and Pacific OACPS members respectively,” it adds.

“It took more than two years of negotiations before the text of a renewed partnership agreement was initialled in April 2021, and two more years for the EU Member States to resolve dissenting views before signing,” the EU stated.

It explained that the future agreement would have been provisionally applied from January of this year, and further legal procedures will be required before it can enter fully into force, notably ratification by at least two-thirds (53) of OACPS members.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister has assured that this country’s signature would be added to the 64 countries that are there. He pointed out that a date had been set but at the time could not off-hand remember. However, he made clear that “definitely when we meet, that signing would occur.”

Last November, the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen had discussed the ramifications of not signing the Samoa Agreement. This was in response to questions from the media following the signing of the new agreement. Countries that didn’t sign by the end of last December faced the prospect of missing out on accessing funding from the European Investment Bank.