Embassy of The Bahamas, Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
18 January 2024
Press Release
Ambassador H.E. Cheryl Bazard marked a historic moment by signing the Samoa Agreement at the relocated OACPS, ushering in a new era of collaboration between the EU and countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The aim of the agreement is to unite over 105 nations and approximately 1.5 billion people under common principles addressing democracy, human rights, sustainable development, climate change, social development, peace, security, and migration.
Against the scenic snowy backdrop of Brussels, Belgium, Ambassador H.E. Cheryl Bazard, representing the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, signed the historic Samoa Agreement at the newly relocated Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) in Place Rogiers. This monumental event marks the first time OACPS Secretary General, H.E. Georges Chikoti, attended a signing ceremony outside of Samoa.
The Samoa Agreement, serving as the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, establishes a new partnership agreement that will be the legal foundation for EU relations with many countries, including 48 African nations, 16 Caribbean nations, and 15 Pacific nations. In total, the agreement unites more than 105 countries and approximately 1.5 billion people.
Focused on strengthening the collaborative capacity of the EU and ACP countries to address global challenges, the agreement lays down common principles across six priority areas: democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility.
This groundbreaking accord includes a common foundation at the ACP level, supplemented by three regional protocols tailored to the specific needs of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The signing underscores the commitment to shared values, cooperative governance, and concerted efforts to tackle pressing global issues.
About The Embassy, Belgium: The Embassy of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the Kingdom of Belgium and Mission to the European Union serves to enhance both bilateral and multilateral relations with the European Union, the Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Community of Latin and Caribbean Countries (CELAC) as well as other organisations and is an active participant in the Caribbean Group of Embassies in Brussels. We invite you to contact us and experience why it’s “better in The Bahamas”.
For more info: https://bahamasembassybe.com