On Wednesday 23 November, the MEP Norbert Neuser (S&D, Germany), rapporteur for the European Parliament on the future of relations between the EU and the 78 ACP countries after 2020, welcomed the communication published the same day by the European Commission on the subject (see EUROPE 11673).
An 'all ACP' umbrella agreement and regional agreements targeted to the specific characteristics of Africa, the Carribean and the Pacific for the future ACP/EU cooperation is exactly what Neuser called for when he took the initiative of drafting a report on the future of the partnership post-Cotonou, which was published one month before the Commission took position (see EUROPE 11639).
"I am very happy to see that the Commission largely followed the line of my report. The new architecture [of the future partnership: Ed] of an overarching umbrella platform, building on the common acquis, with regional pillars allowing tailor-made cooperation, was endorsed by the Commission". Neuser also welcomes the fact that the Commission is on board with his recommendation for a "revised, legally binding agreement that also offers the possibility to set standards on human rights, as well as social and environmental principles".
In the history of the ACP/EU partnership, this is the first time, that the European Parliament has stolen a march on the Commission in suggesting revised terms for cooperation. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)