1. COMMISSION ADOPTS NEGOTIATING MANDATE FOR FUTURE LOME CONVENTION
The European Commission last Wednesday adopted its proposed negotiating mandate for negotiations between the EU and the ACP countries on the follow up to the fourth Lomé Convention. The mandate proposes that the title of the follow up to the Lomé Convention be titled "Partnership Agreement for Development". This new name is supposed to refer to the will of the partners to move towards renewed co-operation based on the fight against poverty; regional development and integration of the ACP countries in the world economy; co-operation further opened to civilian society, with an increased political dimension and differentiated instruments that take account of the needs and levels of development of the different countries.
The Commission’s recommendation refers to the overall agreement between the 71 ACP countries and the EU as opposed to the economic partnership agreements with sub-regions that Commission it is also proposing. The Commission suggests that negotiations for the regional partnership agreements begin later between 2000 and 2005 (negotiations for the overall agreement begin in September of this year). Beyond 2005 trade preferences of the Lomé system will only benefit the least developed countries.
The negotiating mandate will be presented before the EU Council next month with the first reading expected at the end of that month. Expect further news in the PAF on the Mandate in the coming weeks.
2. MULTILATERAL BANK CHIEFS OPTIMISTIC ON PROSPECTS FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT
At a session of the European Parliament’s, EP Development Committee the Director General of the IMF, Michel Camdessus, the President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn and the President of the African Development Bank, Omar Kabbaj expressed their optimism on Africa’s future. Mr Camdessus said that after 20 years of regression, figures on growth and deficits are evolving favourably. But he tempered this optimism by saying that although the progress was regular it was too slow. The IMF head said that African countries have to accelerate development to engender growth that is stronger, more stable, more equitably shared and more environmentally friendly. According to the IMF chief these considerations necessitate the implementation of the so called second generation reforms based on the following 4 pillars: a) the re-focusing of the state’s action on areas within its authority (public services, creation on a framework favourable to private investment, and so on); b) mooring of Africa to the global economy; c) deeper reform in the banking and financial sector; d) improvement of public management of public management and the fight against corruption. In addition Mr Camdessus called on the EU to open up its markets and cut agricultural subsidies.
Mr Wolfensohn on his part discussed the social aspects linked to demography. Given the continuos growth in population (2.8% annually), the population’s limited access to health care ( 40%) and illiteracy (55%), growth in Africa would have to rise to at least 7 or 8% to counter these handicaps. Mr Wolfensohn said that the World Bank was listening more closely than in the past to developing countries and that its approach was now more realistic and pragmatist than in the past.
Mr Kabbaj of the African Development Bank paid tribute to the support provided by the EU to Africa but expressed misgivings about the possible erosion of preferential trading systems during the next revision of the Lomé Convention. He said even though some economic signs are encouraging it should be taken in mind that certain countries are in a very bad situation and that problems of poverty and access to health care are getting worse.
3. UK PRESIDENCY RESPONDS TO EP QUESTIONS ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The British Foreign Minister and current President of the EU Council for Foreign Affairs, Mr Robin Cook, was quizzed by parliamentarians from the EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee on a variety of foreign matters including the enlargement of the EU, institutional issues, contacts between the Presidency and Turkey and other issues concerning Iran, Algeria, China and Cuba last Wednesday 28 January.
On Algeria Mr Cook said the UK had a long tradition of granting asylum to political refugees but acted when presented with proof of criminal activities. He said that in the last eighteen months seven Algerian dissidents had been arrested. Responding to a statement by MEP Mr Cohn Bendit (Germany) that Algeria was a rich country that did not need humanitarian aid, Mr Cook said that even though Algeria has substantial resources, there is still a lot of poverty in the country. He added that in times of crises all countries need external assistance, citing the UK’s recent assistance to Canada to combat exceptionally cold weather.
Concerning China, Mr Cook conceded that the EU had to date failed to present a united front in addressing China on its human rights problems. He said that he was looking forward to dialogue with China in London in April during the Asia Europe Meeting, ASEM.
Regarding Cuba, Mr Cook said that he had confirmed to Washington that the EU rejects the American position even though it recognises that there are serious human rights problems in Cuba.
Mr Cook did not talk about the EU Code of Conduct on Arms as it was not possible to put any questions to him on the subject on the day.
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS
| 30 January Brussels | Université de Bruxelles Institut d’Etudes européenes colloquium on EU external relations after Amsterdam (32 2 650 30 69) |
| 4-7 February, Senegal | EU Humanitarian Commissioner, Ms Bonino visits |
| 5-10 February, Angola | EU ACP Commissioner, Mr Pinheiro visits |
| 7-10 February, South Africa | EU ACP Commissioner visits |
5. IN BRIEF
EU Commissioner for relations with the ACP, Mr Joao de Deus Pinheiro, outlined the Commission’s point of view on reproaching two ACP countries on human rights violations at a session of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. On Nigeria, Mr Pinheiro said that imposing an oil embargo on Nigeria will not contribute in solving the problem. Regarding Equatorial Guinea the Commissioner said that the EU would not resume its co-operation as long as the country had not made significant progress in human rights and revised its legislation.
The next ACP-EU Joint Assembly will be held in Mauritius from 20 to 24 April. The Bureau of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly co-chaired by MEP Lord Plumb (UK) and MP Thebe David Mogami (Botswana) decided on the main points of the agenda which will include: the modification of the EU’s banana regime, the effects of the euro on ACP States, the role of women in the economy, the importance of micro-credits in development policy, the prospects for democracy and the rule of law in Africa, conflict prevention, the problems of refugees and humanitarian assistance.
The Commission has defined major outlines of its proposals for the 1999 EU budget. These are:
A rise in payment appropriations in relation to 1998 not exceeding 3%; allocation for structural funds rising by 8%; credits for the Phare and Meda programme increasing by 3%; credits for the Common Agricultural Policy not being increased; credits for internal policies increasing by 3%. The Commission envisages a global increase of the budget by just 3%.