“Frankly shameful”, “unacceptable”, “absolutely scandalous”. On Wednesday 6 July in Strasbourg, MEPs had harsh words to criticise the fact that the post-Cotonou Agreement between the EU and the 79 ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries, initialled in April 2021 (see EUROPE 12699/2), has still not been signed by the EU and implemented, due to the failure of one Member State to sign.
The remarks of the MEPs who took the floor tally with the concerns of the European Commission and the Czech Presidency of the EU Council - especially at a time when multiple crises would require facing common challenges together.
The signature of this renewed partnership agreement, with three tailored regional partnerships, is still blocked by Hungary’s reservation regarding migration (see EUROPE 12859/26, 12824/8).
For Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden) the decision to extend the Cotonou Agreement until June 2023 (the third one-year postponement) instead of signing the renewed partnership with the Organisation of ACP States (OACPS) “is very disappointing” given the potential of the modernised agreement in the fight against climate change, and for migration, peace and security. “I ask the Council to overcome the problem”, he said.
“This agreement between 106 countries on 3 continents should have been signed a long time ago”, stressed Carlos Zorrinho (S&D, Portugal), judging this delay “really damaging” in that it deprives the EU of doing geopolitics in a changed world.
Hannes Heide (S&D, Germany) said the delay “causes a massive loss of confidence and damages the EU”, to the benefit of Russian and Chinese influence.
“Mr Orbán cannot hold the EU hostage. Our partners are counting on us” at a time of tension, war, climate emergency and shortages, said Marie Pierre Vedrenne (Renew Europe, France), stressing that the Parliament must be able to ratify (give its consent to) the post-Cotonou Agreement.
Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) praised the virtues of the partnership “for sustainable development and human rights” with one flaw, which in her view is the clause on the readmission of illegal migrants, which allows the EU to suspend cooperation with an ACP country that refuses readmission.
On behalf of the EU Council Presidency, the Czech Minister for European Affairs, Mikuláš Bek, said that “in a changing world and with many challenges ahead, including the war in our neighbourhood, which has a direct impact on Europe and also affects the ACP countries, the importance of these partnerships is growing”.
He indicated that the Council was open to finding a solution. “We need to sign to strengthen the relationship. The Czech Presidency will make this a priority”, he assured, considering that “the implementation of the post-Cotonou Agreement will allow us to work better alongside our partners”.
On behalf of the European Commission, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius welcomed the fact that the Commission and the Parliament “share a common sense of urgency”. Stressing that it is up to the Council to act, he said he hoped for a rapid signing to be able to implement this partnership which represents “an international force and a strategic interest for the EU”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)