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ASSOCIATION OF THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (“OCTA”)
ASSOCIATION PTOM
LGO ASSOCIATIE
OVERSØISKE LANDE OG TERRITORIERS ASSOCIATION |
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14th Ministerial Conference of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union
Brussels, 25 February 2016
Annotated Programme
08:30 - 9:00 Registration
Participants will register and receive their conference kits.
09:00 - 09:10 Opening
Chair: Prime Minister of Curaçao and OCTA Chair, H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
Welcome and adoption of agenda
Opening remarks by OCTA Chair
09:15 – 09:45 Session 1: Plenary Reports
Chair: H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
09:15 Report of the Executive Committee of OCTA
The President of the Executive Committee of OCTA, Mrs. Kedell Worboys MBE, will report on the activities of the past year. This report will also include information on the work done by the ExCo Working Groups and on activities undertaken with support (financial and human resources) from the EU-funded Technical Assistance to OCTA Project (WGs are requested to submit written reports prior to the conference).
09:25 Report on Partnership Working Party (PWP) on Environment
The Co-Chair of the Environment PWP, Ms. Mira Kleist, will report on the activities of the PWP.
09:30 Report on Partnership Working Party on Financial Services
The Co-Chair of the Financial Services PWP, Mr. Benito Wheatley, will report on the activities of the PWP.
09:35 Report on Territorial Strategies for Innovation (TSI) Project
The Chair of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the TSI project, Mrs. Janice Panton MBE, will report on the TSI Project.
09:50 – 11:10 Session 2: OCTA Governance and Strategic Plan 2015 - 2020
Chair: H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
09:50 Presentation of results of study on outstanding organisational issues of OCTA
In June 2015 the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference of OCTA adopted an Interim Strategic Plan 2015 - 2020, because there were a number of outstanding organisational issues, that still needed to be addressed: (i) the governance structure of the organisation and definition of the role of the various governance bodies; (ii) the structure and cost of the planned OCTA Secretariat; (iii) the revised structure and level of membership fees, based on updated and comparable statistical data; and (iv) Articles of Association and status of the organisation. In order to inform the discussion at the 14th Ministerial Conference a study was commissioned by ExCo on these organisational issues. Mrs. Ann Philipps MA will briefly present the results of this study.
10:05 Interventions by participants and discussion
The objective of this session is to give OCT political leaders an opportunity to discuss some of the more feasible options retained on the basis of a presentation of the results of the study and to express their preferred option for the OCTA Secretariat.
11:15 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 - 12:30 Continuation Session 2: OCTA Governance and Strategic Plan 2015 - 2020
Chair: H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
11:30 Interventions by participants and discussion
The objective of this session is to give OCT political leaders an opportunity to continue to discuss some of the more feasible options retained on the basis of a presentation of the results of the study and to express their preferred option for the structure and level of membership fees.
12:20 Conclusion by Chair
The Chair will conclude on the basis of the discussion what OCTA members have chosen as the preferred (i) structure of the secretariat; (ii) level(s) of membership fee. The choices will be included in the final text of the Administrative Resolutions to be signed at the end of the Conference. Additionally the Chair will propose to mandate the newly elected Executive Committee to complete the work on the two last organisational issues of OCTA, namely its governance structure and articles of association, through broader consultation of the membership.
12:35 – 12:55 Group Photograph
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:05 – 15:00 Session 3: Enhancing growth and investment opportunities in the OCTs (Preparation for 2nd Roundtable of the Forum)
Chair: H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
14:05 Opening remarks by H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
14:08 Panel presentations - Moderator: (TBC)
Panellists
- H.E. Vittus Qujaukitsoq, Minister for Industry, Labour, Trade and Foreign Affairs of Greenland (14:08 - 14:15)
- Leslie Jacques OBE, Councillor Government of Pitcairn Islands (14:15 - 14:22)
- H.E. The Hon. Donaldson Romeo, Premier of Montserrat (14:22 - 14:29)
14:30 Panel discussion moderated by (TBC)
14:55 Conclusion by Moderator
Part three of the Overseas Association Decision (“Trade and Trade Related Cooperation”) contains provisions for the economic development of OCTs and their integration into the global economy. To date this dimension of the EU-OCT partnership has not been adequately discussed between partners. In preparation for the second round table of the Forum, after brief opening remarks by the Prime Minister of Curaçao, 3 panellists under the guidance of a moderator will address one or more of the following questions:
1. How can OCTs use OAD provisions to attract private investment? Which sectors are propitious for investment in the OCTs?
2. Which are the necessary conditions for attracting private investment and what challenges do OCTs face in this realm?
3. How can the regulatory and institutional framework in OCTs be enhanced in order to foster investment and growth?
4. How can OCTs address the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, generated by free trade agreements entered into by the EU and which have an impact on OCTs?
5. How can OCTs strengthen their capacities and benefit from the required expertise?
6. How can existing financial instruments and resources available to OCTs be used for this purpose?
After the three presentations the moderator will invite questions and comments from the floor and afterwards lead a panel discussion with the objective of formulating two conclusions from this thematic session to be included in the Common Conclusions of the OCT-EU Forum.
15:00 – 16:00 Session 4: The new global agreement on climate change and the OCTs’ response efforts (Preparation for 1st Roundtable of the Forum)
Chair: H.E. Bernard Whiteman
15:00 Opening remarks by H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
15:03 Panel presentations - Moderator: Ms. Janet Strachan
Panellists:
- H.E. Mike Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba, LL.M. (15:03 - 15:10)
- Deputy Prefect,Christophe Jean, Secretary General of the Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (15:10 - 15:17)
- H.E. Jean-Christophe Bouissou, Minister of Tourism of French Polynesia (15:17 - 15:25)
15:25 Panel discussion moderated by Ms. Janet Strachan
15:55 Conclusion by Moderator
A brief look at the opportunities and the challenges for OCTs to achieve environmental stability based on the outcome of COP21 and ways in which OCTs can be supported by the EU. In preparation for the first round table of the Forum, after brief opening remarks by the Prime Minister of Curaçao, 3 panellists under the guidance of a moderator will address one or more of the following questions:
1. How can OCTs contribute to the achievement of the Paris agreement (and to EU targets) and the 2030 climate and energy framework;
2. What is the state of play on member state and OCT climate change cooperation?
3. How can OCTs, the Commission and member states coordinate efforts to promote the transition to a low-carbon economy of the OCTs
After the three presentations the moderator will invite questions and comments from the floor and afterwards lead a panel discussion with the objective of formulating two conclusions from this thematic session to be included in the Common Conclusions of the OCT-EU Forum.
16:00 – 16:15 Coffee Break
16:20 – 18:05 Session 5: Political Declaration & Administrative Resolutions
Chair: H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
16:20 Treasurer’s Report
The ExCo Treasurer, Mrs. Carol Voges MSc, will present the financial report of 2015 and the budget for 2016.
16:30 Election of OCTA Chair, OCTA Vice Chair, ExCo President, ExCo Vice-President, ExCo Members and Audit Committee
From among the nominated candidates by OCT Governments the OCTA Chair, Vice Chair, ExCo President, ExCo Vice-President, ExCo Members and the Audit Committee will be chosen.
16:45 Approval of Political Declaration and Administrative Resolutions
The Chairman of the 14th Ministerial Conference will read aloud the Political Declaration and Administrative Resolutions and invite the OCT political leaders to comment and approve these two documents.
17:15 Break
17:45 Signing of Administrative Resolutions and Political Declaration
After a 30-minute break to include possible changes in the texts of the Political Declaration and Administrative Resolutions both documents will be reviewed one last time before proceeding with the signing ceremony.
18:05 – 18:25 Closing
18:05 Closing remarks by outgoing OCTA Chairman, H.E. Bernard Whiteman, M.D.
18:15 Statement by incoming OCTA Chairman
18:25 Closing of 14th OCT Ministerial Conference
