Negotiations between the European Union and the Organisation of ACP Countries (OACPs), although in their final stages, are still encountering differences of opinion on the planned abolition of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, migration and reproductive health rights in the post-Cotonou partnership.
The information was confirmed on Monday 28 September in the European Parliament's Development Committee. And the European Parliament can count on the support of the German EU Council Presidency in advocating the maintenance of an ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, according to Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller (see EUROPE 12569/16).
However, maintaining this is not included in the European negotiating mandate.
At present, according to a draft compromise, there will be an optional meeting of the three regional parliamentary assemblies (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific, respectively).
“This will never replace the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), that strong parliamentary partnership. Multilateralism is under threat”, said the chairman of the parliamentary committee, Tomas Tobé. And he noted that “the joint assembly and democratic accountability are not negotiable” for the European Parliament. His consent to the future agreement depends on it.
On the ACP side, one source confirmed to EUROPE that the JPA issue was “very sensitive”, without saying more. In the source's view, the EU countries should first reach agreement among themselves.
On sexual and reproductive rights, MEPs called for “strong language, as these rights are fundamental in the 21st century”, said Tomas Tobé.
“The issue of human rights is settled”, according to an ACP source, but this particular point poses problems for some African countries.
On migration, Mr Tobé is an advocate for combatting the causes of migration and, like the ACP, is looking for “fair and balanced provisions allowing for legal migration”.
Responding to MEPs' concerns about the single NDICI financial instrument for external action in the EU's draft budget 2021-2027, Mr Müller said he was “in favour of maintaining the ACP investment facilities”, saying that “the Commission's approach is wrong”.
At an informal Council meeting by videoconference on 29 September, the European Development Ministers were briefed by the German Minister and the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, on the state of the negotiations. They also continued the discussion on the future strategic partnership with Africa (see EUROPE 12564/4).
No press conference was held following this video conference organised by the German Presidency of the EU Council on the second day of the African-European Youth Forum kicked off by Gerd Müller.
On his Twitter account, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, confirmed that “Africa, the AU/EU partnership and the negotiations for a new post-Cotonou ACP/EU agreement” had been on the menu.
The AU/EU summit, which was due to take place under the German Presidency, has been postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus and will be held under the Portuguese Presidency. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)