Brussels, 29/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and the 78 ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) nations now have a sound basis for further consideration of the future of their relations post-2020, when the twenty-year Cotonou Agreement on partnership and development, signed in 2000, runs out.
The results of a public consultation held by the European Commission and the European External Action Service on the future of EU-ACP relations after 2020 (see EUROPE 11521) were published on the European Commission's website on 19 July and will be discussed by European development ministers at a Foreign Affairs Council (Development) on 7 September.
For the ACP, the position of the heads of state and/or government in favour of stronger ACVP-EU partnership and triangular cooperation was agreed at their last summit (see EUROPE 11571).
European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said the results of the evaluation '”allow us to build on existing successes and improve in areas where progress can still be made”.
The results show that the Cotonou Agreement has allowed progress under its three - political, development cooperation and trade - pillars but there is wide scope for further improvements in the future.
According to the evaluation, the partnership agreement has helped eradicate poverty and improved the integration of ACP nations in the world economy. It has also boosted the capacity of regional ACP organisations to intervene in conflict management.
Political dialogue has allowed better mutual understanding of points of view among partners and inspired the African Peace Facility. In some countries, however, it is felt that greater political will is needed to improve the human rights situation.
Trade policies have led to increased trade flows between the EU and the ACP nations and the signing of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) between the EU and ACP countries, and increasing numbers of ACP countries joining the World Trade Organisation has allowed the ACPs to play a bigger role in the multilateral trade talks.
Development cooperation has helped improve food security and the access of ACP populations to basic services, and has also played a role in boosting awareness about environmental issues and climate protection. Nevertheless, considerable challenges remain to be tackled, particularly in areas of conflict. It emerged from responses that aid did more to reduce the impact of conflicts than to actually deal with the source of conflict as such. Aid also had little impact on the distribution of wealth, and not enough attention has been paid to demographics.
The results of the evaluation can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/summary-report-public-consultation-eu-acp-20160318_en_0.pdf (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)