EUROPE DAY MESSAGE
IN COMMEMORATION OF
EUROPE DAY
Jamaica joins all EU citizens and institutions in commemorating the 73rd anniversary of Europe Day. The date marks the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration which sets out the vision for a new form of political cooperation in Europe grounded in the maintenance of peaceful relations.
The precepts of the Schuman Declaration are as relevant today as they were in the post-World War II era. As Europe contends with war on its doorstep, it is guided by the recognition that “world peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.”
Jamaica joins hands with the EU at all levels, including within the OACPS and CELAC frameworks, in efforts to ensure that sustainable and lasting peace becomes a reality.
At the core of the Schuman Declaration is the principle of solidarity which not only guides European integration, but also characterizes the EU’s external relations. We note that in addition to strong actions taken by the EU to support Ukraine, it also took steps to allocate EUR 600 million from the European Development Fund reserves to support the food security needs of the most affected African, Caribbean and Pacific countries aggravated by the economic fallout from the war.
For more than four decades, the EU has supported Jamaica’s economic growth and development and resilience-building initiatives, through intervention programmes in key areas including health, agriculture, environment and climate change, citizen security and justice reform and more recently, digital transformation. These programmes have made a qualitative difference to the lives of many Jamaicans, including vulnerable groups such people with disabilities, women and youth. The EU is a strong development and strategic partner of Jamaica and of Jamaica’s Vision 2030 national development plan to advance the achievement of developed country status.
The offer of additional support to Jamaica within the framework of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Indicative Programme, with activities to be pursued at national, regional and hemispheric levels, and with an emphasis on investment through the Global Gateway initiative, is a further display of the EU’s strong solidarity and commitment to our development goals and aspirations.
As Jamaica moves towards achieving an inclusive and resilient digital society and economy, we welcome the launch in March 2023, of the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Digital Alliance, which will allow our regions to significantly strengthen cooperation in various aspects of digital transformation.
As we look toward the further strengthening of relations with the EU, we recognize that there is significant scope for enhanced cultural cooperation with Jamaica, the expansion of services trade between both sides, and seamless travel between our two regions. We anticipate positive outcomes from the actions we have been pursuing towards these ends.
We wish for the Delegation of the EU to Jamaica and all of our European partners a Happy Europe Day 2023!
