|
Copies of comparative tables jointly prepared by the EU and the ACP on their negotiating mandates, distributed at the last ACP-EU Central Negotiating Group meeting, are available from the Eurostep secretariat. The tables outline the areas of convergence and divergence between the two parties' negotiating mandates. Following the reference in last week's PAF to the two parties having reached an agreement on the involvement of civil society in dialogue, we have now learnt that this actually meant that the two parties, at this stage, do not consider their basic positions on civil society involvement in dialogue as contradictory. They have thus declared the issue as a non-controversial area.
The Eurostep secretariat has also been informed that the European Commission will be making their reports after each round of negotiations public on the Internet. These will obviously constitute to some degree, the Commission's interpretation of events. The ACP will also be preparing its own reports of each round to be made available at the ACP Secretariat. For more information you can contact the ACP secretariat at Tel: 00 32 2 743 06 00; Fax: 00 32 2 735 55 73; E-mail: infoacpsec.org
Meanwhile the Commission's report on evaluation of EC aid to the ACP is available on the following website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg08/evaluation/report.pdf
2. COMMISSION PROPOSES THAT TOGO REMAIN SUSPENDED FROM THE LOME CONVENTION TILL FURTHER NOTICE
The European Commission decided on Wednesday, 25 November, to close consultations with Togo and not to resume co-operation with the country, on the basis of a communication from European Commissioner for Development, Joao de Deus Pinheiro. The Commission argues that since consultations began on 30 July, following irregularities observed in Togo's presidential elections in June, no solution has been found to remedy Togo's failure to meet obligations under Article 5 of the Lomé Convention, referring to respect of human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. According to the Commission, the Togolese authorities failed to supply written information on concrete measures already taken or being envisaged by the Togolese Government to address the EU's concerns.
3. EU COMMISSIONER FOR DEVELOPMENT STATES CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH EU WILL RESUME CO-OPERATION WITH CONGO
Mr Laurent Kabila, Head of State of the Democratic Republic of Congo, met with EU Commissioner for Development, Mr. Pinheiro to discuss conditions for the resumption of aid to Congo and the situation in the country. Mr Pinheiro called on Mr. Kabila to agree to an African mediation process to the conflict. The Commissioner said that the resumption of development co-operation depended on respect for several preconditions including security and stability in the country and the establishment on the rule of law.
Financing from the 6th and 7th EDF remains available only within the framework of negotiations or a conference intended to resolve the conflict in the Great Lakes Region. In addition, the programmes in place to meet some needs of the population and measures to accompany the establishment of the rule of law may be financed by the Commission on the condition that progress is seen in that area.
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Brussels 30 November EU Development Ministers meet. Agenda includes debt relief for countries hit by Hurricane Mitch London, Wilton Park 30 November -3 Nationalities, minorities and racism December in Europe Tel: 00 44 1903 817 765 Brussels 8 December EU Foreign Ministers meet Vienna 10 December EU Foreign Ministers meet on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights
5. IN BRIEF
The EU, last week, stated its willingness to take part in a new WTO panel with the United States on its banana import regime to ACP countries. But not under threat of sanctions or according to the deadlines chosen by the US. The matter was to be discussed on Wedneday 25 November in Geneva during the WTO's mothly meeting of the Dispute's Settlements Body, if the US maintained its threat to place a sanctions on a wide range of EU goods
A profile of Philip Lowe, Director General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Development (DG VIII) can be found in the 26 November edition of the European newspaper - European Voice.
The EU has welcomed the Burundian Government's plans for an independent inquiry into the alleged Burundi Governments massacres in Mutambu, Burundi. The EU states that it equally condemns the massacre in Mutambu as that committed by armed rebels in Kanyosha.
6. NOTICES FOR EUROSTEP MEMBERS
6.1 PUBLICATIONS
Terre des hommes have produced a case study in the form of a booklet on the impact EU policies on women involved in the canning industry in South Africa titled “I HAVE NOTHING - The Impact of European Union Policies on Women Canning Workers in South Africa”. Peter Eisenblätter of terre des hommes would like to relay the following message on the publication to member organisations:
“In our view this booklet can be helpful and serve as a concrete example for advocacy activities around the North-South policy of the EU (with a special focus on the present Lomé negotiations). And also perhaps it might be useful for advocacy activities concerning respective Gender issues. Here in Germany we will use the booklet e.g. for an international hearing and workshop which on the occasion of the German EU presidency we are planning to carry out (in co-operation with other German NGOs) on April 23 to 24, 1999, in Königswinter (close to Bonn) - Further information about this seminar we will disseminate in time via the Eurostep secretariat. If you should wish to have more copies of this booklet you can contact one of the organisations mentioned on the backside of the cover - IBIS (Denmark), One World Action (UK), - terre des hommes (Germany). (However, as far as terre des hommes - Germany is concerned, the number of copies available unfortunately is very limited - not least because we need them for the above mentioned seminar)”.
6.2 MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM BRITA
Dear Eurostep members,
Please accept my sincere gratitude, and thanks for all your support during the year's of Peter's illness, especially during these last six months, allowing me time to take care of him and be with him.
The beautiful bouquets and the many, personal letters I received after Peter passed away, even from those of you who never met him, have touched me deeply, and indeed proved to me how fortunate I was to be loved by and married to an extraordinary man. The lovely wreath from Eurostep in all autumn colours could not have been more in Peter's spirit, as he loved colours. The bouquets were distributed to hospitals and old people's home after the funeral, where I hope they brought some pleasure and joy.
PS A more personal note of thanks will be sent to all.
© Eurostep. Please address comments to [email protected]