Brussels, 06/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - In answer to press questions on the rumour recently echoed by the EU15 development ministers that the Development Council is to be restricted (see EUROPE of 29 May, p.12), Jean-Robert Goulongana, Secretary General of the ACP Group, said he was "very worried by the signs that could show the Union's declining interest in development cooperation". He noted the determination of the ACP group to heighten the awareness of all the actors - Commission, European Parliament, civil society - regarding this question. The issue will be tackled at the next ACP/EU Council (28 June, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic). According to Jean-Robert Goulongana, the subordination of development policy in the Union's general policy would be a source of uncertainty and would only add to the concern of ACPs already worried by the closure of Commission delegations in ACP countries at the very time when there is talk of stepping up action on the ground, and by the increased number of procedures at the level of the Commission (larger numbers of interlocutors in different Directorate Generals) at a time when rationalisation of aid is on the agenda.
We recall that the idea of reducing the number of Council of the Union formations should be launched in the report addressed to the European Council in Seville, prepared by an ad hoc group formed of the Council's Secretary General, Javier Solana and "corresponding" Heads of State and Government.