5 March 2010: Caribbean and EU diplomats, as well as representatives from civil society, met to discuss an enhanced Caribbean–EU partnership at a seminar in Barbados held from 4-5 March 2010, with a view to launching a drafting process of a new EU-Caribbean strategy addressing, inter alia, challenges related to climate change.

Seminar participants discussed priorities and areas of strategic importance for both the Caribbean and the EU, and assessed strengths, weaknesses and achievements of the Caribbean-EU relations. It is anticipated that an outline of the strategy will be presented at the upcoming EU/Latin America and the Caribbean Summit, which will take place in Madrid, Spain, on 17 May 2010. The seminar was organized by the CARIFORUM Directorate of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, the European Commission and the Spanish EU Presidency. [CARICOM Press Release]