Antigua and Barbuda has formally welcomed Fiona Ramsey, the newly appointed European Union Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean, during high-level courtesy calls with the country’s senior leadership.
The ambassador met with Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Foreign Affairs Minister E. P. Chet Greene, where discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and addressing shared priorities between Antigua and Barbuda and the European Union.
Prime Minister Browne highlighted the depth of the relationship, noting that European engagement with Antigua and Barbuda spans generations and remains central to national and regional development.
He acknowledged the EU’s role as a key development partner since Independence and called for a more strategic approach to regional funding under existing frameworks, including the Economic Partnership Agreement.
A major focus of the talks was regional connectivity. The prime minister pointed to persistent challenges in moving people and goods across the Caribbean, arguing that high transportation costs continue to constrain intra-regional trade.
He suggested that future EU support could be directed toward shared maritime solutions—such as dedicated vessels to serve multiple islands, rather than smaller, country-specific grants. Such an approach, he said, would deliver wider regional benefits and align with long-standing proposals advanced by Antigua and Barbuda.
In a separate meeting, Foreign Affairs Minister Greene described the engagement as timely, given renewed conversations around EU support. He expressed gratitude for decades of assistance while acknowledging areas of concern raised by the EU in recent years. Greene emphasized confidence in the durability of the partnership, noting that both sides have navigated complex issues before and can do so again through constructive dialogue.
The minister referenced ongoing discussions related to European Development Funds and the Citizenship by Investment Programme, areas where differing perspectives exist. He expressed hope that continued engagement would allow both sides to find workable solutions.
Ambassador Ramsey, for her part, underscored the EU’s commitment to open communication and collaborative problem-solving. She noted that long-standing partnerships naturally involve ongoing dialogue and adjustments, and reaffirmed the EU’s interest in working closely with Antigua and Barbuda.
She also pointed to climate change as a significant area of shared concern and cooperation, adding that maritime connectivity is receiving increased attention within the EU, with the possibility of further announcements in the period ahead.
The meetings signaled a renewed commitment on both sides to deepen cooperation and address regional challenges through partnership and dialogue.
We’re all here for the problem solving as she mentioned and we look forward to a fruitful relationship