BRUSSELS – Legislators from the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries have called for a “radical departure” from the traditional relationship with the European Union (EU), Dr P.I. Gomes, the Secretary General of the 79-member grouping has said.
The legislators met here this week for the 47th session of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly, as well as joint intercessional meetings with Members of the European Parliament.
With less than one year to go before negotiations begin for a new partnership framework between the two parties, one of the key issues of concern for the ACP is the state of preparations, including the shared principles and rationales that would guide the process.
The Guyanese-born Gomes, summarising the discussions of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly that was held October 9-11, including an exchange of views with Brussels-based Ambassadors on Monday, noted the call from the representatives for a “radical departure” from the traditional relationship, marked by an “imbalance” between the two blocs in terms of economic might and levels of technology and capacity.
He said members urged consolidated efforts to achieve a level of sustainable development whereby ACP developing countries are able to progress from being dependent exporters of raw materials, to being able to add value to their own products.
“The underpinnings of the entire process for a post-Cotonou Agreement rests on the fundamental aim of achieving the structural transformation of ACP economies,” said Gomes.
The Cotonou Agreement, the comprehensive and legally binding treaty that governs trade, development cooperation and political dialogue between EU and ACP countries is due to expire in 2020.
Gomes said that transforming economic structures and investment strategies is essential to achieve healthy and productive lives by the great majority in ACP societies and not only for a few.
“This means productive resources must enable jobs, particularly for youth, women and girls; investments must give equitable returns to workers by living wages that improve the quality of life of families; and education and health care must become available, at reasonable or no costs,” he added.
These aims, in line with the globally endorsed 2030 Development Agenda, are captured in the policy framework document adopted by the ACP Council of Ministers in May 2017 entitled Towards The ACP We Want.
In his address to the opening of the meeting, Gomes had noted that the negotiation process has a road map guiding it indicating that the Georgetown Agreement is to be revised; briefs prepared for the Technical Negotiating Teams on each of the three strategic pillars; studies done on the Political Dialogue and Investment Facility in the Cotonou Agreement leading to an exchange of a Negotiating Brief with the European commission by August 2018.
“You as parliamentarians must play a key role. You will debate, amend, clarify and ratify a new Agreement or reject as your Parliaments see fit,” he said, indicating that “transforming economic structures and investment strategies is essential to achieve healthy and productive lives by the great majority in our societies and not only for a few”.
Following the meetings of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly, members are taking part in joint meetings with European counterparts that ends on Friday.
These intercessional meetings of the Bureau and Standing Committees of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) are in preparation for the upcoming 34th session of the JPA to be held in Haiti, tentatively scheduled for December 13-20 this year, the ACP Secretariat noted. (CMC)
