Brussels, 08/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Ministers of the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) group of states that opens in Brussels on Tuesday (9-12 December) will be historic for more than one reason. This will be the 100th ministerial session of the group of ACP countries linked to the EU by the Cotonou Agreement and will be the first opportunity for the ACP ministers to meet representatives from the Juncker Commission, at a turning point for ACP-EU cooperation. The main items on the agenda for this session, which will be chaired by Guinea, are the outlook for the future of the ACP Group as an international coalition after 2020 (when the Cotonou Agreement expires), trade issues, development funding, the nomination of the new ACP Group secretary general, and the Ebola epidemic.
Future of the ACP Group. The Council will decide on the final report from the ACP ambassadors' working group, which since 2011 has been undertaking a comprehensive report on ACP-EU relations, with a view to reviewing the Cotonou Agreement and its expiry in 2020. The working group's mission was to define a strategy to increase the effectiveness and visibility of the ACP Group on the international scene.
“Emphasis will be put on the organisation's leadership and operation, and on implementing the reforms that will enable the effectiveness of its action to be improved as regards reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development in its member states”, says Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, the ACP Group's current secretary general (whose mandate comes to an end on 28 February). The Council will also assess a progress report and a policy document on the outlook and recommendations concerning the future of the ACP Group, which will be given to it by the group of eminent people (GEP), chaired by Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria (see EUROPE 11107). The GEP's final report will be presented at the summit of ACP heads of state and government in 2015. European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica has committed to launching a consultation in 2015 on the future of this partnership agreement between the EU and the ACP countries.
New secretary general. The Council will appoint the new secretary general, who will preside over the institution from 2015-2020. Three candidates from the Caribbean are in the running (see EUROPE 11209).
Development funding. Mimica will sign national indicative programmes with several ACP countries, establishing the framework and priorities for development cooperation with the EU for 2014-2020, under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).
Trade issues. The Council will take stock of the state of play of the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) between the EU and ACP regional bodies, and will move forward to consultations on basic products (bananas, sugar and cotton).
Ebola epidemic. The Council will devote an extraordinary meeting to the humanitarian crisis caused by the devastating epidemic of the Ebola virus, which has claimed nearly 7,000 lives in West Africa. Discussions will focus on strengthening local health systems and on holding an international conference on Ebola, which the ACP states want. This conference will reportedly be coordinated by the ACP Group, the African Union and the EU. (AN)