European Union in Jamaica

Oil prices may have risen because of the Iran conflict, but they will not save Russia's economy. Windfall gains were significantly offset by a stronger currency and subsidy payments to oil companies and refiners.
In the first four months of 2026, Russia's budget deficit reached 5.9 trillion roubles, already far above the 3.8 trillion planned for the whole year. More than 200,000 businesses have closed since January. Interest rates remain high. Corporate debt has nearly doubled since the full-scale invasion. Labour shortages are persistent, taxes are rising, and domestic demand is falling.
EU sanctions, now 20 packages in force, continue to restrict Russia's access to technology, finance, logistics and energy markets, imposing long-term structural costs. Higher oil prices give Russia short-term breathing space. They do not fix the structural damage. The pressure continues.

Advancing alternative measures to imprisonment in the Caribbean under the 🇪🇺EU’s EL PACCTO programme.

On 2 June, the European Union and European partners gathered with Caribbean partners in a 3-day workshop for pragmatic and solution-oriented exchanges on alternative measures to imprisonment.

EU Ambassador Dr Erja Askola had the pleasure of joining Jamaica’s Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, and State Minister for National Security and Peace Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, to welcome and address the participants with insights from their perspectives.

“When alternatives to imprisonment are well designed and properly supervised, they can help reduce overcrowding, strengthen rehabilitation, and improve public safety,” said Ambassador Askola.

Here’s a photo recap following the official sign-off by the 🇪🇺 European Union and the 🇯🇲 Government of Jamaica on the second disbursement under the Digital Transitioning Programme for Jamaica (Digital Jamaica).

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MOFPS) has signed a J$1.7 billion financial agreement with the European Union (EU) for the Digital Transitioning Programme aimed at supporting Jamaica’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Policy. A handover ceremony to mark the agreement between the two partners was held at the MOFPS on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Read more: https://www.mof.gov.jm/goj-signs-j1-7-billion-financing-agreement-with-the-eu-for-the-digital-jamaica-programme/