On the basis of the Cotonou agreement, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is mandated to organise consultation sessions and meetings of ACP-EU economic and social interest groups in order to include these actors views on the ACP-EU partnership and foster cooperation between civil society organisations.

Within this framework, in addition to the general meetings for ACP-EU economic and social interest groups organised by the EESC in Brussels every three years, at regular intervals the EESC also organises regional seminars in ACP countries.

This year, the EESC organised a regional seminar in the Caribbean, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) on 5-6 July 2012 with the presence of ACP Legal representatives.

The aims of this seminar were:

• to monitor the implementation on the CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and specifically the involvement of civil society in this process;
• to discuss the topic “Sustainable and inclusive growth” from a European, African, Pacific and Caribbean perspective;
• to discuss the involvement of civil society organisations in the EU's development policies and in development cooperation.

At the end of the seminar a final declaration has been issued that will be forwarded to the partners of the Cotonou agreement.

In this context, Mr. Hugo Ramirez Risk, the ACP Legal Dominican Chapter President, took the opportunity to confirm the official DR government support from Minister and National Authorising Officer, Mr. Domingo Jimenez, to the OHADAC project of harmonization of business law in the Caribbean. The project was presented as a “Wider Caribbean” initiative within the EPAs by ACP Legal and supported by the Dominican Republic; a Program Identification Fiche has been sent for approval to the Quality Support Group of the EU in Brussels for funding over a mid-2013-mid-2015 period to the tune of about € 450 000. Once positive feedback, our teams must submit an Action Fiche detailing the content, the methods of implementation of the project, its sustainability and possible financial counterpart, for the final signing of a grant agreement. This funding would allow an extension of ongoing actions, which are funded through the INTERREG IV Caribbean program.

Program here: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/resources/docs/a_f_ces5943-2012_conv-poj_en.pdf

For more information, please contact: jean.reale@acplegal.net