Saint Lucia Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre met with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Hon. Gaston Browne, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Timothy Antoine, OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules, and other officials of the European Union (EU).
The meeting was convened at the EU Mission to the United Nations in New York, on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The discussion centred on the future of citizenship by investment programmes following the European Commission’s request that Eastern Caribbean countries operating such programmes phase them out by June 2028.
The Prime Ministers reiterated that citizenship by investment programmes are an important source of development financing for the OECS countries that operate them.
They also underscored the need for continued dialogue with the EU on a transition path forward that takes account of EU security concerns and the economic realities of the region.
