Brussels, 04/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - Representatives of ACP regional organisations met in Brussels for the second time to prepare negotiations, that are to begin in 2002, with the EU in view of concluding new trade agreements, compatible with the WTO. Work was organised as follows: regional integration and cooperation; - geographic configuration of integrated regional organisations called on to negotiate regional economic partnership agreements with the EU, intended to take effect in 2008.
For the ACP States, there is no formal link between the definition of ACP regions and ACP/EU regional cooperation provided for by the Cotonou Agreement. The Commission has, however, said that Edf resources will not be allocated to regions that have not made a decision concerning their belonging to an integrated region, with which the Union can conduct future negotiations. At their first meeting, in December 2000, the heads of the ACP regional organisations had noted that the sub-regions that make up the ACP Group had no major difficulties on this score - except for East and Southern Africa - two sub-regions composed countries members of several regional integration organisations or having among their ranks countries not belonging to the ACP Group.