Brussels, 16/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The bilateral trade, development and cooperation agreement between the EU and South Africa was approved by the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg on Tuesday 15 February. The resolution, drafted by EP development committee chairwoman Eva Joly, was adopted by a huge majority (521 votes to 4, with 26 abstentions).
In its initial version, the agreement was concluded in 1999 between the European Community and South Africa and came into force in May 2004. The revised version was signed in September 2009. Following the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, it is no longer the European Community but the European Union which has to formally approve the agreement. The Council submitted a request for assent.
The EP position, approving the agreement, will be sent to the European Commission and to the governments and parliaments of member states and the Republic of South Africa.
Of the 109 articles in the cooperation agreement, only around 20 relate specifically to development cooperation and four to the funding of general cooperation. (A.N./transl.rt)