After expiry of the Cotonou Agreement in 2020, MEPs want the EU’s partnership with the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) group of countries to be continued but reformed to make it more effective, more political, more democratic and more able to respond to new global challenges.
Climate change, migration, peace and security, including combating terrorism, extremism and international crime, are among the challenges highlighted by Parliament in the non-binding resolution on the future of ACP-EU relations after 2020, adopted in Strasbourg on Tuesday 4 October by the very comfortable majority of 489 votes to 146, with 37 abstentions.
The text recognises the usefulness of this unique partnership between a group of 28 industrialised countries and 79 developing countries which form over 80% of the least developed countries, a partnership whose achievements must be maintained. It stresses, too, that the future of ACP-EU relations should be “based on a new reflection on the potential and obstacles ahead” for this cooperation.
“Ever more urgent issues, such as poverty eradication, climate change, migration and combatting terrorism, need a common platform, bringing together the EU with the countries concerned. I am glad the Cotonou Agreement has allowed us to strengthen relations with our partner countries and develop a framework that enables us to discuss shared solutions”, said rapporteur Norbert Neuser (S&D, Germany).
The European Parliament calls for a legally binding framework that puts sustainable development at the very heart of the partnership with monitoring and accountability mechanisms. It also highlights the importance of targeted regional agreements which take account of regional organisations and existing regional strategies and the importance of this group making its voice better heard in international fora.
MEPs want the partnership to turn away from the donor-recipient mentality and to promote good governance and improved monitoring of human rights. The resolution also states that regular evaluation and joint reports would be welcome. The Parliament calls for parliamentary representatives of the opposition to be included in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly – a decision-making joint political body that deals with all sensitive issues. This would promote political dialogue and prevent political crises, MEPs say. The report also advocates stronger involvement of civil society and the private sector.
Parliament reiterates its call of many years that the European development fund (EDF) be included in the EU budget so that MEPs can exercise democratic scrutiny of expenditure.
The resolution is a contribution to current deliberations within the EU and the ACP group of countries on the arrangements for the future partnership (see EUROPE 11621 and 11571). The Commission proposal is expected at the end of November. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)