On 19 March, the European Commission and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of 79 States (ACP) have concluded and initalled the text of the second revision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.
The revised text adapts the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement to include current global challenges, such as climate change, food security, regional integration, State fragility and aid effectiveness. It also focuses on the importance of regional integration for ACP countries' economic and sustainable growth.
The Cotonou Agreement is the most comprehensive partnership agreement between developing countries and the EU. Since 2000, it has been the framework for the EU's relations with 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific regions. The first revision took place in 2005 and prepared the ground for the 2007-2013 financial framework of development assistance. This agreement will be reviewed every five years until 2020.
More details on the revision of the agreement can be found here.
The second revision (March 2010):
- takes into consideration the growing importance of regional integration in ACP countries and in ACP-EU relations; the need to foster cooperation and peace and security; the interest of promoting growth and tackling cross-border challenges.
- recognises the continental dimension of Africa, and the African Union becomes a partner of the EU-ACP relationship.
- acknowledges the interdependence between security and development through the promotion of joint cooperation on security threats; the development of a comprehensive approach combining diplomacy, security, and development cooperation, for situations of State fragility.
- promotes joint cooperation approaches in dealing with major challenges to meet the Millennium Development Goals – food security, HIV-AIDS and sustainability of fisheries – and their importance for sustainable development, growth and poverty reduction.
The parties have committed to raising the profile of climate change in their development cooperation, and to support ACP efforts in mitigating and adapting to its effects.
The trade chapter of the Agreement reflects the new trade relationship and the expiry of preferences at the end of 2007. It reaffirms the role of the Economic Partnership Agreements to boost economic development and integration into the world economy. The revised Agreement highlights the challenges ACP countries are facing to integrate better into the world economy, in particular the effects of “preference erosion”. It therefore underlines the importance of trade adaptation strategies and aid for trade.
More actors in the partnership: the new agreement clearly recognizes the role of national parliaments, local authorities, civil society and private sector.
More impact, more value for money: This second revision will be instrumental in putting into practice the internationally agreed aid effectiveness principles, in particular donor coordination. It will also untie EU aid to the ACP countries to reduce transaction costs. For the first time, the role of other EU policies for the development of ACP countries is recognized and the EU has committed to enhance the coherence of those policies to this end.
On 19 March, the negotiators, EU being represented by Commissioner PIEBALGS and ACP countries by Mr. Paul BUNDUKU-LATHA, Minister of State for Economy, Trade, Industry and Tourism of Gabon have formally concluded the negotiation and initial the revised texts. Once approved by the EU Council, it is envisaged to officially sign the new Agreement in Ouagadougou by all Parties (79 ACP States, 27 EU member States, EU Commission) at the EU- ACP Council in June 2010. Thereafter, the Agreement will have to be ratified by all ACP States and the EU member States and for the EU, will require the consent of the European Parliament under the Lisbon Treaty.
For more Information
www.acpsec.org/en/specialcouncil2010/initiallingofcotonou/acpwellcomes_cotonouinitialling.html
ec.europa.eu/development/geographical/cotonou
ec.europa.eu/development/index_en.cfm
ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/delivering-aid/aid-effectiveness/index_en.htm
Reference: IP/05/789 (Europa Press Releases)
