A visiting High-Level delegation from the European Commission, met with Prime Minister Dr Hon Ralph Gonsalves, members of his cabinet and senior public servants on Thursday 19th September 2019.
The delegation, lead by Mr Stefano Manservisi; The Director General for International Cooperation and Development, held discussions with the local team headed by Prime Minister Gonsalves to assess the status of the partnership between the European Union and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as well as visit a number of projects financed by the European Union.
The one day visit to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is part of a wider regional mission being undertaken by the European Commission delegation.
In addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Gonsalves noted that the European Union is our country’s single largest source of grant funding and a critical development partner that has been with us on very important focal sectors.
Director General Manservisi, who is making way for his replacement, outlined that the assessment forms part of a comprehensive brief that would include the status of the work being done by the EU in the Caribbean, that he intends to hand over to his successor.
The outgoing Director General took the time to congratulate Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on its election to the United Nations Security Council and highlighted the significance of this, not just for this country but for the entire region, while suggesting that this is an opportunity for the EU and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to work together to achieve more for the region.
Following the discussions at cabinet room, the visiting delegation that also included, Mr Felice Zaccheo, Head of Division for Caribbean Countries, Ambassador Daniela Tramacere, Head of Delegation and Political Advisor from the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, Ovidiu Naftanaila, visited a number of projects that were financed through funding from the European Union.
The mission ended with a cocktail at the VIP Lounge at the Argyle International Airport, where the visiting delegation interacted with other stakeholders including Trade Union Leaders, farmers and other and members of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
