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The Liaison Committee of Development NGOs to the European Union organised an NGO seminar on the Lomé Negotiations on 5-6 November in Brussels. Items on the agenda included an exchange of information on the official negotiating process, an analysis of the EU and ACP negotiating positions and workshops on the trade arrangements and civil society participation.
In the course of the seminar, there was a report on the state of progress of the development of the ACP NGO Forum (ACP NGO co-ordination structure on Lomé). The meeting was informed that progress on the establishment of the forum has been slow but steady. Among the aims of the Forum is the establishment of an office in Brussels. The Forum is currently in discussion with the ACP Secretariat on the possibility of receiving financial support as well as office space from the Secretariat. The rationale behind the Forum's wish to have its office housed by the ACP Secretariat is that, this would clearly indicate that the Forum was an ACP body and not a appendage of European NGOs in Brussels. The Forum hope to have their office up and running by next year.
The meeting was also informed of the aim of some European based NGOs to set up an European NGO Monitoring Group of the ACP-EU negotiations on the new Lomé agreement. The idea is to have a small group of NGOs who stay in regular contact by E-mail and monitor what happens in the negotiations. The Group would aim to draw attention to points coming up in the negotiations and make recommendations to NGO networks on what action could be followed. The Monitoring Group would like to bring in organisations such as NGO national platforms outside Brussels. The PAF will try to provide more information on the Group as well as conclusions on the seminar, as a whole, in its next issue.
2. EU LIFTS MAJOR SANCTIONS ON NIGERIA - RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE ON DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION
The EU has adopted, in the form of written procedure, a new common position on Nigeria taking effect from 1 November 1998. The procedure modifies two previous common positions taken by the Union on 20 November and 5 December 1995 which imposed a number of sanctions on Nigeria following the Nigerian Government's execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other human rights activists.
The new position taken by the EU follows recent developments that, according to the EU Council, favour the democratisation process and the Nigerian Government's commitment to economic reform. Among the sanctions that are being dropped are visa restrictions for authorities and security forces and their families. Sanctions maintained include the suspension of military co-operation and an embargo on arms.
The common position also allows for the resumption of dialogue on development co-operation with a view to full co-operation after the installation of a democratically elected civilian government. In the mean time development co-operation actions on support from human rights and democracy as well as those concentrating on poverty alleviation may continue.
3. EU-SADC MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
EU Commissioner for Development, Mr Joao de Deus Pinheiro, speaking at the EU-SADC Ministerial Conference in Vienna this week, called for increased political dialogue between the two partners. Mr Pinheiro said the recent upsurge in conflicts in Africa and the increased resort to military solutions could only hinder development efforts.
The two parties at the Conference identified the following priorities for future co-operation as:
Reinforcement of democracy, including support for the electoral process in the region; Closer co-operation to prevent conflicts and maintain peace; An increase in the common effort to fight organised crime; Mine removal operations and information campaigns on land mines; Promotion of regional integration, in particular through technical assistance to the SADC free trade zone; Promotion of trade and private investment and SMEs; and the Fight against AIDS.
4. FORTHCOMING LOME NEGOTIATIONS RELATED EVENTS
Further to events of importance to the ACP-EU Negotiations listed in PAF # 106, please find some additional events that have been identified by the Caribbean Council for Europe.
17 November Brussels ACP-EU meeting of the central negotiating group (ambassadorial level) on future ACP-EU relations 18-November, Brussels ACP-EU Private Sector Development and Investment and Financial Co-operation negotiating groups meet at Ambassadorial level 24 November, Brussels ACP-EU Central Negotiating Group (Ambassadorial level) 24-26 November, Brussels European Parliament Development Committee Hearing on relations with overseas countries and territories (OCTs), ACP countries and very remote regions. 3 December, Brussels Ministerial level meeting between the ACP and EU Troikas on future ACP-EU relations 16 December, Brussels ACP-EU meeting of the central negotiating group (ambassadorial level) on future ACP-EU relations 25-26 January, Brussels The ACP-EU Joint Assembly Working Group on Future of EU-ACP Co-operation 16-19 March, Strasbourg ACP-EU Joint Assembly March 1999 Deadline for Agenda 2000, EU internal reform May 1999 Bureau of the ACP Council of Ministers May 1999 69th session of the ACP Council of Ministers in the + 24th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers in the EU September 1999, Bahamas ACP-EU Joint Assembly meeting in the Bahamas Mid-September 1999, Swaziland ACP ministerial level meeting on the Sugar protocol End September 1999 2nd Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government (preceded by a Special ACP Council of Ministers) January 2000 New European Commission to take office
For a more detailed and complete list of events you can contact the Eurostep secretariat or, the Caribbean Council for Europe at melissa.julianibm.net
5. IN BRIEF
The European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, in line with a report it adopted on human rights, is calling on the EU Council and the European Commission to promote the reform of financial institution, taking in account fundamental economic, civil and cultural rights. The EP is asked to refuse to issue assent to international agreements that do not contain appropriate provisions on human rights.
Eurodad, the European NGO network on Debt and Development, along with Central American NGOs, have launched an international call for action on immediate debt cancellation for Nicaragua and Honduras in the wake of hurricane Mitch. For more information you can contact the Eurodad secretariat at Tel: 00 32 2 543 90 60; Fax: 00 32 2 544 05 59; e-mail: eurodadagoranet.be
The European Commission will present an improved offer of access to EU markets for South Africa on 11 November. Commission officials are hoping that this will keep the EU-South Africa trade talks on track to meet the autumn deadline.
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