ACP–EU development cooperation

Press release - EU agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries at risk

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 3, 2020

The two Chairs warned that Parliament would not give its consent to the new Post-Cotonou agreement if greater parliamentary scrutiny and democratic control were not included.

Key Points: 
  • The two Chairs warned that Parliament would not give its consent to the new Post-Cotonou agreement if greater parliamentary scrutiny and democratic control were not included.
  • The consent of Parliament is required under EU law for the international agreement to come into effect.
  • Twenty years after its initial conclusion, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the EU and 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries should have expired in February 2020, but has been extended until December 2021 as negotiations on a successor Agreement have taken longer than planned.
  • The ACP-EU framework is the most comprehensive partnership between the EU and third countries and a key foundation of EU development cooperation and external relations.

Press release - ACP-EU Post-Cotonou: A Joint Parliamentary Assembly is non-negotiable

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 26, 2020

They stress that both the ACP negotiating mandate and the European Parliament position on the future agreement underline the essential role to be played by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Key Points: 
  • They stress that both the ACP negotiating mandate and the European Parliament position on the future agreement underline the essential role to be played by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
  • A government-only driven partnership would not represent the interests of the ACP and European peoples affected by the agreement.
  • It would be a step backwards in the ACP-EU relations and lack essential parliamentary scrutiny.
  • A strengthened involvement of the parliaments is crucial, as democratic oversight is more needed than ever in order to build a strong and balanced partnership.

Latest news - Declaration of the Co-Presidents on Post-Cotonou Negotiations during the 38th JPA - Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 13, 2019

The Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) welcome the progress made so far in the negotiations on the strategic priorities of the future agreement and on the regional protocols.

Key Points: 
  • The Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) welcome the progress made so far in the negotiations on the strategic priorities of the future agreement and on the regional protocols.
  • They recall that the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly has a prominent role to play to ensure democratic oversight of the future agreement, provide for an open, frank and comprehensive parliamentary dialogue and to promote democracy and human rights.
  • The Co-Presidents therefore consider it fundamental for the new institutional framework to include a strengthened ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
  • Regional Partnership Parliamentary Committees shall hold yearly meetings, and not be dependent on the meetings of the Regional Partnership Council of Ministers being convened.