Brussels, 08/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - More than six years after the partial suspension of cooperation between the EU and Togo, the European Commission gave the signal for a reopening on Thursday by adopting (written procedure) a communication for beginning dialogue between the EU and Togo as part of Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. It is proposing that the Council re-opens consultation to examine the political situation in the country and obtain commitments from the Togolese authorities that can be easily controlled in connection with their will to open a genuine dialogue with the opposition and representatives from civil society, a return to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press. It is up to the Council to approve the Commission's proposal by qualified majority voting. Once the decision is taken, the Toggles authorities will be invited, in a fortnight, to come to Brussels to discuss with the Irish Presidency and Member States and ACP what commitments are necessary. The Togolese authorities will then have 60d days to establish their "road map" to respect these promises. Consultations should allow the EU to decide how or whether to establish cooperation with the country or whether to adopt other measures.
Cooperation with Togo was essentially suspended in 1992 due to constant violations of democratic principles and human rights, denounced by the EU as contrary to essential elements of the agreement between the EU and the ACP countries (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific). These sanctions did not prevent the continuation of certain decentralised projects for civil society or the promotion of the State of Law and human rights, in an effort to avoid paying the population suffer. In 1998, consultations had been begun Togo (under Article 366 A of the Lomé Convention) but which did not convince the EU of lifting sanctions against this ACP country.