As the EU works to modernise its relations with the 79 countries
in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), chief negotiators
and Robert Dussey met with
ACP Caribbean leaders for a dialogue on the regional EU-Caribbean
pillar in the context of the post Cotonou ACP-EU partnership.
Today's discussions form part of broader regional consultations
and are focused on the Caribbean's specific needs and
priorities for the coming years. The outcome will guide the
negotiators' work in creating a tailor-made EU-Caribbean
partnership within the future ACP-EU agreement.
Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development
Neven Mimica, who is the EU's chief
negotiator said: "Today's discussions confirmed a
shared vision for the future and a good understanding of the
pressing challenges we need to tackle together. In this spirit,
the EU's relationship with the Caribbean will deepen under our
future ACP-EU agreement and open up fresh opportunities”.
Professor Robert Dussey, the ACP's chief
negotiator, Chair of the Ministerial Central Negotiating Group,
and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Africa
integration of Togo, said: “These regional
consultations proved to bring valuable perspectives on this
region's priorities to our talks. Productive exchanges between
the two parties will contribute enormously to the current
negotiations for the new post-Cotonou Agreement, and especially
to those which will begin on the Caribbean Regional Protocol.
Today's meeting follows the consultation held in Samoa with our
ACP Pacific partners in February. The Africa consultation is
due to take place soon in Eswatini.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica,
Kamina Johnson-Smith,
added: “Within the framework of the ongoing ACP-EU
post-Cotonou negotiations, the Government of Jamaica is pleased
to host the regional consultations for the Caribbean and to
have the opportunity to jointly explore with our EU partners
some of the urgent issues related to our developmental
aspirations.”
Background
The Cotonou Agreement currently governing ACP-EU relations is
due to expire in 2020. Negotiations on a new ACP-EU partnership
were launched in New York on 28 September 2018 in the margins
of the United Nations General Assembly.
The two first series of talks mainly focused on the common
foundation at ACP-EU level. This contains the values and
principles that bring the EU and ACP countries together. It
also indicates the strategic priority areas that the two sides
intend to prospectively work on together. In the future
agreement, on top of the foundation there will be three
action-oriented regional pillars to focus on each region's
specific needs. Through the future partnership, EU and ACP
countries will seek closer political cooperation on the world
stage. Together, they represent more than half of all UN member
countries and unite over 1.5 billion people.
For more information
Q&A on the future
EU-ACP partnership
Press release - New ACP-EU
Partnership: EU and Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific
Leaders intensify the regional talks in Samoa
EU Negotiation
directives
ACP Negotiation
directives
