The spirit of partnership that reigns between the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) states and the EU (which are linked by the legally binding Cotonou Agreement) took a hit with the publication of a list of 17 non-cooperative jurisdictions as regards taxation (see EUROPE 11919) – a decision described as "unilateral" by the ACP on Wednesday 6 December.
Henrique Banze, the assistant secretary general of the ACP states, who is responsible for macro-economic issues and development finance, opened up on this to the press in Brussels, following the 106th session of the ACP Council of Ministers. This meeting mainly focused on financial issues, but coming in the perspective of the negotiations that are to open in 2018 on the agreement that will take over from the Cotonou Agreement after 2020.
"Some of our ACP countries feature on this list of non-cooperative jurisdictions. We were not consulted. This is a unilateral process. The ACP countries need to be consulted before publication", Banze stated. He added: "the only organisation providing criteria to which we conform is the OECD. It should be an international body under the aegis of the UN. The publication of this kind of list has an impact on the trust of our investors".
Four of the 17 countries listed are indeed ACP countries: Grenada, Namibia, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
"The Cotonou Agreement provides in its Article 8 for a political dialogue that could have been used, and that we are in the process of reviewing. It has its weaknesses. The countries have not been consulted. Some of our states feel aggrieved. It is important that in the framework of this dialogue there is a real commitment from both parties", Léonard-Emile Ognimba, the assistant secretary general, responsible for political affairs and human development, stated.
The same criticism of unilateralism was made in the committee on financing cooperation with regard to the mid-term review of the 11thh European Development Fund in the light of the performance of the different countries and regions in order to readjust the financial allocations. "We have noted consultations in some countries, but not in others. Our member states would like to be consulted before the general review. They think certain decisions are taken unilaterally by the EU. We are talking about the quality of the dialogue", Banze stated, summarising the discussion with the Commission representative.
By contrast, Banze spoke of the ACP countries' satisfaction with the idea that the EU continues to promote the fight against poverty. "The EDF has played an important role in addressing issues of poverty. The ACP states have benefitted from this", he said. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)