The European Parliament has become impatient that the modernised partnership agreement between the EU and the countries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPs) has still not been signed yet.
In joint letters sent on Friday 29 October to the 27 Development Ministers of EU Member States, Tomas Tobé, David McAllister, Bernd Lange and Carlos Zorrinho – who are the respective Chairs of the European Parliament’s Committees on Development (DEVE), Foreign Affairs (AFET) and International Trade (INTA) and Chair of the delegation for relations with the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly – called for this Agreement to be quickly signed and therefore to replace the Cotonou Agreement.
Nine months after a political agreement was reached over the text (see EUROPE 12616/7) and more than five months after the agreement was initialled by EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen and Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey (see EUROPE 12699/2), they believe that overcoming the remaining divisions is of the utmost importance.
They have emphasise the potential this future agreement has to strengthen the political partnership between the EU and the ACP, with the agreement covering important issues such as climate change, migration, peace and security.
“At this critical moment, with the end date of the Cotonou Agreement in sight, the European Parliament is strongly insisting on receiving the EU Council’s request for approval. Rapidly ratifying it is just as important for OACPs as it is for the EU”, noted Tomas Tobé in a statement.
In May, Hungary had indicated that it would refuse to sign (see EUROPE 12724/27).
The current extension of the Cotonou Agreement, which would ordinarily have expired in February 2020, was necessary because the signing of the post-Cotonou agreement is lagging behind. “It is now hoped it will be signed in March 2022”, said a source close to the case on Monday. According to this source, the dispute between the European Commission and the Council of the EU over the legal nature of the post-Cotonou agreement (mixed agreement or sole EU agreement) – which also explains this delay – is in the process of being resolved, with the Commission ready to accept a mixed agreement.
In June, the European Commission adopted its proposal for an EU Council Decision to be made on the signature and implementation. It is now up to the EU Council to come to a unanimous decision. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)