Brussels, 13/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - "The ACP/EU negotiations on the partnership agreement for post-Lomé development have reached cruising speed. Two meetings of the ACP states are still scheduled prior to the joint ministerial negotiating conference on 2 and 3 February, which is expected to be conclusive since the current Lomé Convention expires on 28 February." Thus, Philippe Lowe, Director General at the Commission's Directorate General for Development, who did not conceal his optimism, on Thursday in Brussels, as he reviewed the situation at a press conference.
Mr Lowe stated that very few issues are still on the table for discussion during this final negotiating session. The outstanding questions concern the clause on the readmission of illegal immigrants by the country of which they are nationals and two trade-related aspects, namely: a) improved access for ACP products to the Union market during the eight-year transitional period prior to implementation of the regional economic partnership agreements; b) the derogation to be requested in Geneva of the WTO for the eight-year status quo period (definitive agreement on the entire accord is necessary).
Concerning the amount of the Ninth European Development Fund, Philippe Lowe said the disappointment expressed by the ACP states over the European offer (EUR 13.5 billion, along with 9 billion in unused resources from earlier Development Funds) was due to the insufficient explanations provided by the Union "concerning the implications of this offer". To remedy this "comprehension deficit", the Commission plans to provide more ample explanations on Tuesday 18 January before the Committee of ACP Ambassadors. "If the financial objectives contained in this proposal are attained, the average level of spending commitment could double over the next five years to EUR 3.5 billion a year. If the ACP states think the Union is being miserly, they are mistaken", concluded Philippe Lowe.