Brussels, 24/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - The way ahead is open for the resumption of development cooperation between the EU and Fiji - one of the 79 ACP countries (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) linked to the EU through the Cotonou agreement. On Friday 21 November, the Council of the EU adopted, without debate, the letter sent to the president of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, informing him of the forthcoming lifting of restrictive measures on co-operation, which were imposed by the EU in 2007 following the coup d'état in this Pacific archipelago in December 2006.
The appropriate way in which the general elections were conducted on 17 September was welcomed by the EU as an essential factor in the return to democracy and explains the progress.
Cooperation will resume as soon as the programming is finalised on the resources available for Fiji under the 11th European Development Fund (11th EDF) and the financial envelope in the Cotonou agreement for the 2013-2020. The sanctions imposed on Fiji were under the terms of Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement, which stipulates partial or total suspension of cooperation in breaches of essential elements of the agreement (respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law). The sanctions were extended regularly - the last time being made applicable until 31 March 2015. (AN)