Eastern Caribbean leaders have agreed to pursue a coordinated response to the European Union’s concerns over Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes following a high-level meeting held in Dominica on July 10.
The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, brought together the heads of government of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines to discuss the potential impact of the European Commission’s revised visa suspension mechanism.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of security, transparency, integrity and good governance in their CBI programmes. They pointed to recent reforms, including stronger due diligence procedures, enhanced information sharing, greater transparency measures and the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority.
The heads of government emphasized that CBI programmes have become a key source of development financing for small island states, helping to fund climate resilience projects, disaster recovery, housing, healthcare, education, infrastructure and other national priorities while reducing reliance on borrowing.
They also agreed to strengthen diplomatic engagement with the European Union, including a high-level mission to Brussels to meet with senior EU officials. The leaders added that the discussions will focus on finding balanced solutions that address the EU’s concerns while recognizing the economic realities and development needs of small island developing states.
The group expressed confidence that continued dialogue and cooperation would lead to practical, long-term solutions that protect both regional development and the longstanding partnership between the Eastern Caribbean and the European Union.
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Read full statement below:
