European Union Ambassador Fiona Ramsey Presents Credentials to OECS Director General

Her Excellency Fiona Ramsey, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean formally presented her Letter of Credence to OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules during a virtual ceremony on July 2, 2026, reaffirming the European Union's longstanding commitment to regional integration, sustainable development, and strategic cooperation with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Welcoming Ambassador Ramsey, Dr. Jules congratulated her on her appointment and reaffirmed the strong partnership that has developed between the OECS and the European Union over several decades. He stated:

"The European Union has always been one of the OECS' most enduring development partners … Ours is a relationship built on mutual respect, shared values, and a common commitment to sustainable development, democracy, multilateralism, and the well-being of our people."

Ambassador Ramsey praised the OECS for more than four decades of advancing regional integration and solidarity among its Member States and emphasised the unique relationship between Europe and the Caribbean.

"Europe is not just a partner across the Atlantic," Ambassador Ramsey said. "Europe is also part of the Caribbean through the French territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe and the overseas countries and territories in the region. We share the same maritime space, the same neighbourhood, and many of the same practical challenges. Close cooperation between the European Union and the OECS is therefore both natural and essential."

The Ambassador conveyed greetings from European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, noting the European Union's continued commitment to strengthening relations with the Caribbean through its Global Gateway Investment Agenda.

She highlighted ongoing cooperation across renewable energy, climate resilience, water security, biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, food security, digital connectivity, sargassum management, and climate finance. Ambassador Ramsey also underscored new opportunities for Caribbean students through the Erasmus+ programme and announced that, beginning in September 2026, the European Union Delegation to Barbados would become a reinforced regional delegation responsible for coordinating implementation of the Global Gateway Strategy across the Caribbean.

Following the credential ceremony, Ambassador Ramsey and Dr. Jules discussed strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and the OECS. Their dialogue focused on advancing cooperation in climate resilience, renewable energy, sustainable ocean governance, digital transformation, education, innovation, regional integration, and infrastructure development.

Both leaders also underscored the importance of adopting a more strategic, programmatic approach to development cooperation that aligns with the OECS Development Strategy and the European Union's Global Gateway Investment Agenda. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding opportunities for the people of the Eastern Caribbean through strengthened collaboration, innovation, and sustainable investment.