The Heads of Government of the participating Eastern Caribbean States met in Roseau,  Commonwealth of Dominica, on the 10^th of July, 2026, at the invitation and under the  chairmanship of the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of  Dominica, to consider recent developments concerning Citizenship by Investment (CBI)  programmes and the implications of the European Union’s revised visa suspension mechanism.  

Present at the meeting were Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica; Hon. Philip J  Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia; Hon. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and  Barbuda; Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime  Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Also present was Hon. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 

The Heads of Government reviewed the recent communication from the European Commission  and exchanged views on the potential implications for the economic resilience, sustainable  development, and long-term prosperity of their respective countries, as well as on the appropriate  collective response of participating States. 

The Heads of Government reaffirm the strong and enduring partnership between our countries  and the European Union, founded on mutual respect, shared democratic values, and a common  commitment to international cooperation and sustainable development. We welcome continued  dialogue with our European partners and remain committed to engaging constructively in  addressing matters of mutual concern. 

The participating States recognize the importance of maintaining the highest standards of  security, transparency, integrity, and good governance in the operation of Citizenship by  Investment programmes. Over the past several years, our governments have undertaken  significant reforms, including the strengthening of due diligence frameworks, enhanced  information sharing, greater transparency measures, and the implementation of rigorous regional  standards designed to ensure that our programmes remain among the most robust in the world. 

The establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority  represents a major advancement in regional governance and oversight. Through this institution,  participating States have demonstrated their collective commitment to harmonized regulation, 

enhanced compliance, and continuous improvement in accordance with evolving international  best practices. 

The Heads of Government underscore that Citizenship by Investment programmes have become  an important pillar of economic resilience and development financing for small island  developing states. Revenues generated through these programmes have supported critical  investments in climate resilience, disaster recovery, infrastructure, housing, healthcare,  education, and fiscal stability. These programmes have enabled our countries to respond to  extraordinary external shocks while reducing dependence on unsustainable borrowing and  preserving macroeconomic stability. 

Against this backdrop, the Heads of Government note that future adjustments to existing  arrangements must take full account of the economic realities and development vulnerabilities of  small island developing states. Any transition affecting a significant source of national  development financing must be accompanied by a comprehensive framework that safeguards  economic stability, protects development gains already achieved, and supports the creation of  sustainable alternative sources of financing. 

We therefore welcome the European Commission’s commitment to continued engagement and  technical dialogue. To advance this, the Heads of Government have agreed to pursue a  coordinated programme of diplomatic engagement with the institutions of the European Union  and the governments of Member States. In that regard the Heads of Government have agreed to  undertake a high-level mission to Brussels at the earliest appropriate opportunity to engage  directly with the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council,  the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. 

These engagements will seek to deepen mutual understanding of the unique vulnerabilities and  development realities of small island developing states, to explore practical and mutually  beneficial solutions to the issues identified by the European Union, and to strengthen the  longstanding partnership between the European Union and the Eastern Caribbean. 

Recognizing the importance of preserving economic stability and development gains achieved  through Citizenship by Investment programmes, the Heads of Government have agreed that  discussions with the European Union should also encompass opportunities for enhanced  development cooperation, strategic investment partnerships, climate resilience financing,  economic diversification initiatives, and other appropriate support measures capable of  strengthening long-term economic resilience and facilitating any future arrangements that may  be agreed between the parties. 

The Heads of Government have also directed their Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ministers  responsible for Citizenship by Investment Programmes, Ambassadors, and senior officials to coordinate closely in support of these efforts and to ensure the presentation of a unified regional  position in all engagements with European counterparts. They further mandate the establishment  of a coordinated diplomatic outreach programme to key European capitals in support of the  objectives outlined herein. 

The Heads of Government believe that solutions can and should be developed through genuine  partnership, reflecting both the legitimate policy objectives of the European Union and the 

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legitimate development needs of small island developing states. Any future framework should be  guided by the principles of proportionality, partnership, shared responsibility, and sustainable  development. 

The Heads of Government reaffirm their readiness to engage constructively in this process and  express their confidence that, through dialogue and cooperation, balanced and durable solutions  can be achieved.