While time is running out, the signing by the Europeans of the post-Cotonou Agreement concluded in April 2021 between the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is still not for tomorrow, to the great displeasure of the European ministers for development, who discussed it, on Thursday 4 May, at the ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council in its ‘Development’ format ( see EUROPE 13174/34).
Poland explained that its reservation was linked to the issue of Ukrainian grain surpluses on the Polish market, without specifying exactly what it expects as a concession from the EU.
“Poland is not in a position at the moment to accept the draft decision on the post-Cotonou agreement. The lack of acceptance is due to the perceived incoherence of the EU and its Member States' actions with regard to the ACP countries, particularly in the area of food security, particularly in recent weeks”, according to the Polish delegation, as reported by an EU diplomat.
You can’t link two negotiations like that, said the High Representative of the Union, Josep Borrell, and the Swedish Minister for International Cooperation and Trade, Johan Forssell. However, a solution will have to be found. Poland said it was open to negotiating with the European Commission and Mr Borrell.
15 delegations took the floor (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia and the Netherlands) to stress the urgent need to move forward.
They all expressed their frustration, mentioning the negative impact of any delay in signing this partnership agreement on the credibility of the EU and on relations with a group of 79 countries that are particularly important in the complex geopolitical context.
This renewed partnership agreement aims in particular to enable the EU and the 79 ACP countries to define common positions on global challenges and to carry weight in international fora.
As a mixed agreement, the signature of the EU and its Member States, on the one hand, and the members of the OEACP, on the other, is required. An EU Council note, dated 2 May and seen by EUROPE, stresses that the Post-Cotonou Agreement is to be made available to the EU27 ambassadors for signature by written procedure in time for June, with dates in square brackets. The last extension of the current Cotonou Agreement expires on 30 June.
See the note: https://aeur.eu/f/6pt (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)