The European Union and CARICOM

The European Union and CARICOM partnership is anchored by the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). This comprehensive free trade and cooperation framework provides CARIFORUM nations duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market while promoting regional integration, sustainable development, and investment between the two regions. 

Beyond trade, the EU and CARICOM actively collaborate on broader regional goals through programs funded by the European Development Fund (EDF): 

• Wider Caribbean Cooperation: Initiatives—such as the Regional Technical Cooperation Facility—fund technical studies, language programs for young professionals, and projects aimed at sustainable agriculture and mitigating the negative impacts of sargassum seaweed. 
• Digital Connectivity: The EU and partners (like Spain) invest in digital sovereignty, aiming to enhance broadband access and reliable internet for remote areas in the Caribbean. 
• Integration: Both blocs represent some of the most advanced regional integration processes in the world, sharing mutual lessons on institutions and shared rules.