Since 1964 the Caribbean has received European development assistance. This has been provided, largely unconditionally, on both a regional and national basis to every Caribbean nation, including at times, Cuba. Despite problems of slow disbursement, complex bureaucratic procedures and changes to the manner in which funding is made available, there has always been the sense that such support would continue.

However, the way in which Europe will provide future development assistance and the countries and areas that it will be directed at, are about to change. During the course of October, the European Commission (EC) produced two communications (policy papers). One ‘Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change,’ plus an accompanying impact study, focused on Europe’s future priorities and approach. The other, ‘The Future Approach to EU Budget Support to Third Countries,’ suggested revisions to the EU’s existing policy on bilateral budgetary support, the mechanism that Europe introduced to try to create greater efficiency by providing  financial resources directly to governments to administer.

Though neither document addresses in any detail the EU’s future support for any particular part of the world, it is clear from a careful reading and comments made in private by senior European officials, that Europe’s traditional approach in the Caribbean – providing support though…..