Antigua and Barbuda is a Caribbean island located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, with a population of over 90,000 (2023). It has historically been among the Caribbean's most prosperous nations, largely thanks to its tourism industry and offshore financial services. However, as a Small Islands Development State (SIDS), Antigua and Barbuda is highly dependent on a limited number of economic sectors, vulnerable to foreign economic disruption, and particularly affected by natural disasters. In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the infrastructure on the island of Barbuda and the entire population had to be temporarily evacuated.
Our partnership
The EU supports Antigua and Barbuda’s transition towards sustainable and inclusive development, in line with the Global Gateway Strategy.
For the Caribbean, the EU-Organisation of African, Caribbean, Pacific States (OACPS) Partnership Agreement sets out the objectives of the Caribbean-EU partnership. EU support focuses on improving environmental sustainability and climate resilience; transitioning to a sustainable and diversified economy that supports decent jobs and growth, and promotes trade and investment; enhancing good governance, and building inclusive and secure societies where institutions are accountable, and no one is left behind.
These objectives are taken forward in the three Caribbean-EU partnerships focusing on: (1) the Green Deal, (2) economic resilience and trade, (3) governance, security and human development.
The EU adopted a Multiannual Indicative Programme for the period 2021-27 under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe). Under that framework, the EU allocated €208 million for the Caribbean specific region.
Our flagship initiatives
The Global Gateway Investment Agenda for Antigua and Barbuda highlights areas with potential for investment projects to help address the sub-region's infrastructure needs, mainly in the following areas:
- Climate and energy:
- Transition to renewable energy by fostering investments in solar, wind, geothermal and green hydrogen technology.
- Reducing the chronic water shortages and improving wastewater systems with a combination of research, innovation, technology transfer, policy development, risk protection, seed fund and bigger infrastructure projects.
- Climate Finance: mitigating or adapting to the impacts of climate change (green finance and sustainable finance).
- Supporting Caribbean biodiversity and fighting ocean pollution.
- Turning Sargassum algae from a threat to an economic opportunity (e.g. biofuel, water purification, agriculture).
- Transport:
- Improving maritime connectivity in the Caribbean to foster regional integration, economic growth and food security.
- Health
- Supporting health systems resilience and the digital transformation of health facilities.