PM Browne addresses Caribbean-EU Parliamentary Assembly (Screenshot of OACPS Secretariat)
Prime Minister Gaston Browne called for a practical reset in EU–Caribbean relations, urging reforms to trade implementation, improved mobility for Caribbean nationals, and deeper cooperation on transnational crime and Haiti’s stabilization.
Delivering the feature address at the Speaking a high-level Caribbean EU-Parliamentary Assembly hosted at the American University of Antigua, Browne said that while the EU–CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides a legal framework, execution remains weak.
“Law alone does not generate prosperity. Execution does,” he stated.
He highlighted persistent barriers faced by Caribbean small and medium-sized enterprises, including:
• Complex rules of origin
• Regulatory hurdles
• Limited technical capacity
He also stressed that mobility is essential for meaningful partnership.
“Entrepreneurs must meet investors. Artists must perform. Researchers must collaborate,” he said, calling for predictable and secure access for Caribbean nationals to educational institutions, specialized medical services, and research partnerships in Europe.
On Haiti, Browne reaffirmed the region’s commitment to a Haitian-led democratic pathway supported by sustained international engagement. He acknowledged that the majority of EU assistance to the Caribbean is directed toward Haiti and called for restored security to enable free and fair elections.
He further emphasized shared security concerns between Europe and the Caribbean, particularly in:
• Maritime security
• Intelligence sharing
• Financial crime
• Transnational organized crime
“At a time when global trade routes are being reshaped, predictability is not a luxury — it is an economic stabilizer,” Browne said.
He concluded by urging Caribbean parliamentarians to coordinate more closely and establish a standing consultative mechanism to ensure that Assembly decisions translate into national policy and implementation.
I believe we can do a lot better in assisting Haiti. We keep making commitments that we are not living up to. Hopefully something positive comes out of the three day gatherings.