Brussels, 25/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following the decision to extend suspension of partial co-operation between the EU and Haiti (see EUROPE yesterday page 13), on 24 January, the Spanish Presidency, on behalf of the EU made a declaration in which it spells out the sanctions taken by the Council in January 2001, which will be maintained as long as there is no basis for an agreement between the two sides, until 31 December 2002. When an agreement is signed, there will be a gradual resumption of co-operation in four phases - the co-operation instruments affected by the measures enacted at the end of January 2001 will be implemented on the basis of indicators signalling the end of the crisis. The indicators and the phases corresponding to the re-enactment of co-operation are as follows: (1) Constitution of the Provisional Electoral Council in line with the basic agreement: use of first tranche of 8th European Development Fund in programmes in the fight against poverty and support for democracy, in partnership with the State; (2) Implementation of the Electoral Guarantee Committee set out in the agreement, both at a central and devolved level with the corresponding authorities: the granting of the 2nd tranche of the 8th EDF in support of the electoral process, road infrastructure, fight against poverty and support for democracy; (3) Official international observation missions to oversee the general elections and see that democratic institutions are set up: notification of the allocation of the 9th EDF and signature of the NIP corresponding with the immediate implementation of projects and programmes in the education sector and "non-focal" sectors (40% of NIP); (4) the successful carrying out by the official international observation missions of the local and district elections, with the subsequent implementation of devolved institutions: the freeing up of 60% of NIP of the 9th EDF for transport infrastructure and envelope B for possible structural adjustment assistance.
The declaration of the Spanish Presidency indicates that the "EU attaches great importance to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement. Democratic principles and the rule of law, on which the ACP-EC partnership is founded, are essential elements of the Agreement and thus form the cornerstone of EU-Haitian relations. The Union does not wish to penalise the Haitian people and will continue with co-operation programmes which are not affected by these measures. It hopes that the Haitian authorities and all parties concerned will do everything they can to achieve these crisis exit steps, thereby enabling all co-operation instruments to be progressively resumed. The Union will therefore closely follow efforts to achieve a satisfactory agreement between the two sides to initiate the democratisation process in Haiti. In this respect, the Union hopes that the OAS mediators can reach a generally accepted consensus before too long. To this end, it is ready to review its Decision if there are encouraging developments but reserves the right to take further measures if there is no improvement"