Joint Communiqué: CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement Fifth Meeting of the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council, 19 June 2026
1. The Fifth Meeting of the Joint CARIFORUM-European Union (EU) Council (Joint Council) under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) took place in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic, on 19 June 2026. The Meeting was chaired by the CARIFORUM High Representative, the Honourable Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, Minister of Industry, Trade and MSMEs of The Dominican Republic. The EU Party delegation was led by Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency and Mrs. Theodora Constantinidou, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, representing the Council of the EU.
2. The delegations included other Ministers of CARIFORUM States and senior officials from CARIFORUM States and the EU. The Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council is the highest body of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA and is vested with the responsibility of supervising the implementation of the EPA.
3. The Fifth Meeting of the Joint Council marked the first dedicated political engagement between CARIFORUM and the EU on their Economic Partnership Agreement since the COVID 19 pandemic, which had a particularly severe economic impact in the Caribbean. It was held against the backdrop of a highly uncertain global environment characterized by increased geopolitical tensions and global economic and development spillovers associated with, but not limited to, conflicts, severe impacts from extreme weather events caused by the ongoing climate crisis, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, energy insecurity, as well as fiscal and debt challenges. In light of global trade uncertainties, the Meeting reaffirmed its commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system grounded in international law, that is open, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory and predictable.
4. The Meeting took note of hurricane Melissa which in October 2025 devastated parts of Jamaica, The Dominican Republic and Haiti and affected The Bahamas and other Caribbean States, expressed sympathies to the governments and peoples of the affected States and demonstrated an understanding of the States’ challenging path to economic recovery.
5. CARIFORUM and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement as a tool to deepen the linkages between their economies, further their integration into the global economy, strengthen their efforts to achieve sustainable development, economic resilience and alleviate poverty.
6. The Meeting noted that the two Sides were engaging within the institutional framework of the EPA and noted the matters arising from the meetings of the CARIFORUM-EU Trade and Development Committee (TDC) and the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee. The Meeting also welcomed the establishment and convening of the Special Committee on Services following its decision at its Fourth Meeting.
7. Noting the commitment of the Parties to conduct a review of the EPA at five-yearly intervals as set out in the Joint Declaration on The Signing of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA, the Meeting reviewed the progress made by both Sides with respect to EPA implementation and the functioning of the Agreement, including whether the objectives are being met and results being achieved and agreed priority actions for attention before its next meeting. The Meeting discussed how to conduct such reviews in a more efficient and timely manner, taking into account the current realities.
8. The Meeting examined the status of ratification of the EPA and urged States on both Sides yet to do so to take urgent action to ratify the Agreement.
9. The Joint Council expressed its support for a durable solution that addresses the primary drivers of the current instability and multidimensional crises in Haiti and expressed the hope that Haiti would be able to apply and commence implementation of the Agreement as soon as it is in a position to do so.
10. The Meeting noted that CARIFORUM States were in the process of finalizing their positions on Croatia’s market access offer and urged that they do so urgently. The Meeting took further note that in its consideration of the offer CARIFORUM has expressed a wish for greater sectoral coverage and higher levels of liberalization in the services commitments of Croatia and other EU Member States. The Joint Council mandated the Services Committee to keep this matter under active consideration and requested that the TDC coordinate the preparation of the necessary documentation required for Croatia’s services offer to be incorporated into the Agreement. The Meeting noted that this incorporation could be done by written procedure.
11. The Meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the Parties to complying with their obligations under the international agreements referred to in the EPA regarding the environment, climate change, labour and other social rights and more broadly, to make the EPA work for sustainable development.
12. The Meeting noted the EU Party’s continued implementation of duty-free quota-free access for goods of CARIFORUM origin; that some CARIFORUM States are in full compliance with tariff liberalization obligations and that progress has been made by both Sides in implementing regulatory frameworks for services and investment. The Meeting, however, noted that there were EPA implementation deficits, in particular non-compliance with tariff liberalization obligations by some CARIFORUM States. The EU Party urged those States to implement their tariff liberalization obligations without delay.
13. The Joint Council took note of the progress achieved in relation to the negotiations between CARIFORUM and the EU for an Agreement on the Protection of Geographical Indications and called on the Parties to conclude the negotiations before the next meeting of the Trade and Development Committee in 2027.
14. The Meeting recalled that CARIFORUM States had long expressed concerns about not being able to benefit fully from the EPA, owing to a range of constraints, and noted with concern that many of these challenges remain. In particular, CARIFORUM noted that supply side constraints, limited institutional capacity and EU regulatory measures affecting market access impede the ability of its’ companies to establish an effective level of market presence in the EU. The Joint Council mandated the TDC and other relevant EPA joint institutions to identify practical solutions to address such issues.
15. The Meeting highlighted the importance of deepening trade in services between CARIFORUM and the EU, especially given the recognition that trade in services is now the main driver of the global economy. The Meeting expressed appreciation for the work being undertaken by the Special Committee on Services with a view to identifying and addressing barriers to services trade between the two Sides. The Meeting noted concerns expressed by CARIFORUM States that visa requirements of EU Member States can create impediments to some CARIFORUM services suppliers being able to take advantage of trade in services opportunities in the EU. Given this context, the Meeting expressed hope that through an open exchange on visa issues, CARIFORUM States and the EU and its Member States will be able to better identify the issues and develop appropriate solutions.
16. The Meeting highlighted the importance of CARIFORUM and the EU engaging in continuous monitoring of the EPA as provided for in Article 5, in order to ensure that the objectives of the Agreement are realised, the Agreement is properly implemented and the benefits for men, women, young people and children deriving from their partnership are maximised. The Joint Council requested that the Trade and Development Committee continue its work to strengthen CARIFORUM trade-related data collection.
17. The Meeting highlighted the importance of maintaining the EPA as an instrument that is capable of supporting the efforts of the Parties to achieve sustainable economic development in an evolving context. The Meeting noted the position by CARIFORUM that adjustments to the EPA may be necessary to ensure that it is sufficiently calibrated to keep pace with this evolving context. The Meeting agreed that this matter should be further examined by the EPA joint institutions, particularly the Trade and Development Committee.
18. The Meeting examined the development dimension of the EPA and noted that since its last meeting, the EU provided both financial and non-financial support to CARIFORUM for EPA implementation. The Meeting noted CARIFORUM’s appreciation for the EU support provided as well as its concerns regarding the level of financial support made available under the EU’s development cooperation framework, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI),and the absence of bilateral Multiannual Indicative Programmes (MIPs) for some CARIFORUM States. The Meeting took further note of the EU’s position that financial support to those States was still being made available through the regional MIP.
19. CARIFORUM States highlighted the structural constraints which they face, impacting EPA implementation and their ability to benefit from the Agreement and urged the EU to ensure the provision of development cooperation support for EPA implementation, in line with EPA commitments. CARIFORUM also highlighted the importance of there being certainty and predictability in the provision of this development cooperation support. The EU noted that under the Global Gateway approach it is seeking to leverage investment in areas such as digital connectivity, energy and circular economy, enhancing opportunities under the EPA. The Joint Council called on the Technical Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation to continue discussing cooperation and investment needs, whilst recognizing the framework for cooperation established under the Samoa Agreement.
20. The Meeting recalled that one of the objectives of the EPA is the promotion of regional integration amongst the CARIFORUM States and assessed the progress that CARIFORUM States have made in affording to each other the level of trade preferences granted to the European Union. The Meeting noted that whilst some CARIFORUM States had reported their compliance with the relevant obligations, many were yet to make significant progress in relation to this matter. The Meeting urged the implementation of these obligations in a timely manner.
21. The Meeting took note of CARIFORUM’s call for a review of the Agreement in light of the expiration of the Cotonou Agreement as contemplated by Article 246 to assess the implications of the expiration of Cotonou, inter alia, on the development dimension of the EPA. The Meeting requested the TDC to examine this issue and to present its conclusions for the consideration of the Joint Council at its next meeting.
22. The Meeting expressed its deep appreciation to the Government and people of the Dominican Republic for the warm hospitality, excellent arrangements and courtesies extended which greatly facilitated the fruitful deliberations of the Fifth Meeting of the Joint Council. The Meeting agreed that the Sixth Meeting of the Joint Council should be held in 2028 in Brussels, Belgium.