The partnership between the EU and the 78 countries of the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) group, linked until 2020 by the Cotonou Agreement, should be extended beyond that date and made more effective with greater emphasis on sustainable development, the European Commission says in a communication adopted in Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 November (see EUROPE 11672).
A proposal for an “umbrella ACP” framework agreement with tailored regional partnerships lies at the heart of this document. This is the Commission’s preferred option. Presentation is a further step in the debate begun by the EU, on the one hand, and the ACP countries, on the other, on the future of this unique partnership (see EUROPE 11639 and 11613).
“The communication does not mean a draft negotiating mandate. We are proposing a new partnership and expect the member states to consider this proposal for an umbrella agreement and regional agreements”, International Cooperation and Development Commissioner Neven Mimica told the press.
The formal proposal will be discussed in 2017 with a view to launching negotiations with the ACP countries in 2018. Time is of the essence because the negotiations must begin 18 months before the Cotonou Agreement expires on 29 February 2020.
European ministers will have the opportunity to discuss these proposals when they meet at the Foreign Affairs Council – meeting in the development format – in Brussels on 28 November.
“We are looking to establish a new political partnership, to set up a new alliance to respond to common challenges”, stated Commission Vice-President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. To this end, the political dimension of the partnership will be strengthened.
The framework agreement will focus on shared values and interests (peace, democracy, good governance, the rule of law and human rights) and should give the ACP and the EU greater clout in international bodies and fora.
The Commission wants the EU’s partnerships with each of the ACP regions also to strengthen ties with countries in said regions which are not ACP countries and which could have a significant role to play in security and the management of migration.
The priorities for the regional partnerships will be tailored to the specific situations of the regions. For Africa, the priorities will be peace and stability, consolidation of democracy and good governance, unleashing economic opportunities, management of migrations and mobility, and human development. For the Caribbean, they are climate and energy sustainability, deeper regional integration, promoting sustainable, inclusive development, trade and job creation, tackling inequalities and reducing the impact of natural disasters. The priorities for the Pacific are tackling climate change, reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, good governance, human rights, gender issues and sustainable growth.
The negotiation of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) between the EU and the various ACP regions foreshadowed the regionalisation of the next partnership. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)