Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre joined Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Governor Timothy Antoine, OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules and other regional officials for discussions with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner in New York.

The meeting took place at the EU Mission to the United Nations on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

At the centre of the discussions was the future of CBI programmes following the European Commission's request for their eventual phase-out.

The Eastern Caribbean representatives stressed that the programmes have become an important source of development financing for the participating countries and argued that any transition must recognise the economic circumstances of small island states.

The regional governments are also attempting to address concerns raised by European authorities over security and the integrity of citizenship programmes.

Earlier this year, participating Eastern Caribbean governments reaffirmed commitments to stronger due diligence, information sharing and regional oversight, including the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority.

Pierre has previously said CBI revenues have supported infrastructure, healthcare, education, housing, climate resilience and disaster recovery while allowing small states to finance development without relying entirely on additional borrowing.

The New York meeting represents the latest stage in the region's diplomatic engagement with European authorities.

Importantly, the discussions do not mean that the EU has withdrawn its request for the programmes to be phased out by June 2028. Neither does the meeting itself establish that the Eastern Caribbean governments have agreed to terminate their programmes on that timetable.

Instead, the parties remain engaged in discussions over a possible transition path that addresses European security concerns while considering the economic consequences for participating OECS states.