The Fifth Meeting of the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) took place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 19 June 2026, chaired by CARIFORUM High Representative Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, with the EU delegation led by Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Cyprus State Secretary Theodora Constantinidou. The meeting, the first dedicated political engagement since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaffirmed commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system and full EPA implementation as a tool for sustainable development and economic resilience.
The Joint Council reviewed EPA implementation progress, noting duty-free quota-free access for CARIFORUM goods and progress on services and investment frameworks, but flagged implementation deficits, particularly non-compliance with tariff liberalization obligations by some CARIFORUM states, which the EU urged to be addressed without delay. The meeting also urged both sides to ratify the agreement where pending and expressed hope that Haiti would be able to implement the EPA once stability allows. On Croatia's market access offer, CARIFORUM states are finalizing positions and have requested greater sectoral coverage and higher liberalization in services commitments; the Services Committee was mandated to keep this under active consideration.
CARIFORUM reiterated concerns about supply-side constraints, limited institutional capacity, and EU regulatory measures impeding market access, and the Joint Council tasked the Trade and Development Committee (TDC) with identifying practical solutions. The meeting highlighted the importance of deepening trade in services, with CARIFORUM noting that EU visa requirements create impediments for services suppliers. On development cooperation, CARIFORUM expressed concerns about the level of financial support under the NDICI instrument and the absence of bilateral Multiannual Indicative Programmes for some states, while the EU pointed to continued support through the regional MIP and Global Gateway investments in digital, energy, and circular economy. The Joint Council called for a review of the EPA in light of the expiration of the Cotonou Agreement, as contemplated by Article 246, to assess implications for the development dimension. The meeting also welcomed progress on negotiations for a Geographical Indications agreement, aiming for conclusion before the next TDC meeting in 2027, and urged timely implementation of regional integration obligations among CARIFORUM states. The next Joint Council meeting is scheduled for 2027.