Brussels, 02/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The EU and 78 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries linked by the Cotonou Agreement until 2020 intend to adapt their partnership (which must be re-thought for after 2020) to the global agenda for sustainable development for 2030. At the end of a discussion on the future of the ACP Group and on the future of the ACP-EU partnership, the Joint ACP-EU Council of Ministers being held in Dakar (28-29 April) underlined the fight against climate change, migration and trade to help development - be this a question of the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) or the upcoming deadlines of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (see other article).
“Orienting our cooperation towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will bring an added value to global efforts. We look forward to taking concrete steps to harmonising our positions in this regard”, ACP Co-President and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Minister for Planning Léon Raphaël Mokoko stated.
The ACP Council of Ministers gave a mandate to its secretary-general to support the ACP countries in the negotiation of the improved partnership agreements on sustainable fishing with the EU, and to follow the issues linked to subsidising fishing and special and differentiated treatment as part of the WTO's post-Nairobi programme.
Climate. The two parties called for swift ratification of the Paris Accord (see EUROPE 11539). The ACP Council called on its secretariat general to consider fishing as a vulnerable sector when the intra-ACP resources from the 11th EDF are programmed.
Migration. The Joint Council agreed to strengthen the ACP-EU dialogue to follow up on the EU-Africa Valletta summit.
Future of the ACP-EU partnership. The two parties believe that it is a unique North-South partnership to be improved. The ACP states intend to stay united and believe that there is no place for the scepticism of some EU member states towards the ACP Group (see EUROPE 11521). The report on a group of states from Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific of the 21st century responding to the needs of its people will be presented at the eighth summit of the heads of ACP states in Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea, 31 May-1 June). Formal negotiations between the ACP states and the EU will begin in 2018. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)