By Ariana Gordon

EUROPE Day 2016 is a beacon to all nations, President David Granger has said.At an event held at the National Cultural Centre to mark the occasion on Monday night, the President said Europe Day highlights the path of peace and sustained security, and places increasing emphasis on international cooperation.

In congratulating the European Union (EU) on its achievements over the years, the President noted that the EU is one of Guyana’s main trading partners.
Guyana, in 2013 alone, exported to the EU goods valued in excess of Euros 192 million, or about 15 per cent of the country’s exports.

“Guyana’s imports from the EU were valued at Euros 122 million. Guyana has been a beneficiary of cooperation with the EU. Guyana has benefited in agriculture, education, food security, governance, health, hinterland development, aviation, maritime infrastructure, sea defence and coastal zone management,” President Granger emphasised.

The EU, he said, also remains a valued developing partner in the Caribbean; and, as such, Guyana welcomes the EU’s assurances on dialogue and consultation with the Caribbean region on the issue of the EU implementation of the external strategy with respect to taxation as part of its anti-tax avoidance package.

The EU and Guyana forged a special bond four decades ago, beginning with the historic Georgetown Agreement of 1975.

Meanwhile Ambassador Jernej Videtic, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and for the Dutch overseas territories, said Europe Day represents a time of reflection and celebration of how the EU has overcome age-old differences to shape a common future.

“The EU is made of institutions where people from all European member states work. The cultural richness and shared values are Europe’s strengths,” he said.

Ambassador Videtic noted that the EU brought about stability and reunited Europe after years of “artificial division during the Cold War”.

The EU today is the world’s biggest economy, and has one of the highest standards of living in the world. In light of the EU’s achievements over the years, the ambassador noted, its external actions are based on principles that have inspired its creation. These are: democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, principles of equality and solidarity, the UN Charter and International Law.

The EU has been calling on the Government to abolish the death penalty, decriminalise same-sex intimacy, and strengthen efforts to combat domestic abuse and trafficking in persons.

“The European Union has a strong commitment to gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, and the eradication of gender-based violence,” the EU Ambassador stated.

The EU has, in recent years, supported a number of initiatives in this area in Guyana, including providing financial support to organisations dealing with domestic abuse, such as Help & Shelter, Merundoi, ChildLink, and the Child Care and Protection Agency, to name a few.