Welcome to the website of the Delegation of the European Union to the Eastern Caribbean Countries, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM. Our Delegation represents the European Union in eleven countries and territories in the region. These are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and three United Kingdom Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) namely Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. The Delegation is also accredited to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM).

In having this web presence, our hope is to bring to you as much information as possible on the European Union and our long-standing relationship with the countries of the Eastern Caribbean to which the Delegation is accredited, and more generally with the wider Caribbean Region.

Over the years we have built a strong partnership with the countries of the Eastern Caribbean with whom we are bound in a joint effort of development co-operation. This effort, underpinned by the successive Lomé Conventions and now the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000, is aimed at improving the conditions of life of the populations in the beneficiary countries through sustainable programmes.

Many areas of substantial importance to the countries in the region receive assistance: agriculture especially bananas, trade, tourism, education, health, the environment as well as the economic infrastructure to facilitate economic diversification.

In the context of the EU Lisbon Treaty, which came into force in December 2009, the Delegation has now assumed the role of representing, coordinating and negotiating on behalf of the European Union through the newly created European External Action Service. The Head of Delegation reports to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who is also a Vice President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini. This new setup is aimed at increasing coherence of action of the European Union in all aspects of its external dimension.

I hope this website will help bring closer to the general public the vast co-operation programme that has made the European Union the largest grant aid development partner in the region.

Additionally, on this website you will find many interesting links to the vast European Union website Europa and the websites of many of the European Union's Member States, plus other regional websites, all providing rich sources of information.

A website is a live tool and we promise to make every effort to keep it continuously updated, so why not create a bookmark on your computer and come visit us as often as you wish? You can also direct your queries to delegation-barbados@eeas.europa.eu. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Daniela Tramacere

Head of Delegation