Attends Various Meetings with the European Union, EU Member States and Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union
During her working visit to Belgium and the Netherlands last week the Prime Minister of t. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended a meeting hosted by members of the European Parliament centered on the sustainable development of overseas countries and territories of the European Union.
"Overseas Countries and Territories have organized themselves into the OCTA, which organization has become the representative body of all the countries and territories that make up the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union. A governance structure of the OCTA is in place to ensure participation and communication with all OCTs and matters such as election of the Executive Committee, financial reports and budgets are handled during the annual meetings of the OCTA. Political decisions by the OCTA are formulated as resolutions that are signed by all OCTs and present the views and positions of the OCTs for the coming year.
"Since 2012, the Caribbean OCTs have also organized themselves under the umbrella of the OCTA in the Caribbean OCT Council. The latter forum is especially conducive to discussing regional programs and agreeing to regional program themes and projects.
An important feature during my visit to the European Headquarters in Brussels was centered on a meetings hosted by Members of the European Parliament focusing on both the new vision for EU-OCTs relations and the central theme of sustainable development for the countries. In the margin of these meetings, trilateral meetings were held with the European Union, Member States and the Overseas Countries and Territories as well as regional trilateral meetings," explained the Prime Minister.