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1. GERMAN PRESIDENCY OF THE EU
The German Permanent Representation to the EU formally presented the programme of the "Objectives and Priorities of the German Presidency in the Council of the EU" (1 January - 30 June 1999) on Monday 14 December. In its political objectives, the programme identifies a number of events crucial to European integration and the development of the EU, that take place during the Presidency. Among these are: the launch of the European currency, the reform and further development of the Community policies under the so called 'Agenda 2000' framework, the accession negotiations with the six applicant countries, the European Parliament elections, and the expected entering into force of the Amsterdam EU Treaty.
On external economic policy, the Presidency will promote the liberalisation of trade with greater emphasis on ecological and social goals aiming at sustainable development in preparation for the opening of the new world trade negotiations in the year 2000. According to Germany the new round should encompass progress in: i) dismantling duties for industrial goods (down to zero by 2010); ii) facilitating trade by standardising customs procedures; iii) liberalisation in services and agriculture; iv) opening up the market in public contracts; v) improved protection for intellectual property; vi) trade and investment; vii) and trade and the environment and minimum labour and social standards.
On the EU 's relations with third countries and international organisations, among the aims of the German Presidency will be: 1) To contribute to the civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2) To pay particular attention to the strengthening of political and economic relations with the Mediterranean region, Asia and Latin America. High level meetings taking place include the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of Foreign Ministers on 29 April in Berlin and the EU-Latin America Summit of Heads of State on 28-29 June in Rio (this was not included on the list of activities of the Presidency in last week's PAF (113)). 3) To support the Middle-East Peace process and strengthen the role of the EU within this process while intensifying co-ordination with the USA. 4) To co-ordinate the EU's contribution to stabilising the crisis in Central Africa.
Specifically on development policy, the Presidency will be hoping to contribute to the EU-ACP negotiations on their future relations through strengthening the political dialogue with the ACP as regards to human rights issues and democratisation and improving the efficiency of co-operation and the involvement of the ACP States in world trade. The German Presidency also want to improve the general effectiveness and profile of EU development cooperation through taking more account of the principle of complimentarity enshrined in Community law. This obliges the Member States to mutually supplement their development policies. Another important task would be to assess the results of the evaluation of the Community's development cooperation. A report on this is expected in the near future.
A number of international conferences between the EU and third countries involving development issues will take place during the course of the German Presidency. Apart from the ASEM Foreign Ministers and EU-Latin America Summit, an ASEM Finance Ministers meeting will also take place in March 1999 as well as an EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting on 30 March. The first ACP-EU Negotiatons Meeting at Ministerial level will also take place during the Presidency. This meeting has been tentatively scheduled for February 1999 in Dakar, Senegal.
On the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), as the Amsterdam Treaty should enter into force during the German Presidency, the Presidency will be charged with ensuring that, for the first time, the Treaty is applied in the sphere of the CFSP. A new Secretary General/High Representative for CFSP will be appointed along with a policy-planning and early warning unit to back him or her up. The aim is to use the CFSP to increase the EU's ability to prevent civil conflict and resolve existing conflicts by peaceful means. The Amsterdam Treaty also introduces new instruments of the common strategy for establishing the guidelines underpinning common policy. The Presidency will be identifying matters suitable for the development of common strategies. It will also attempt to ensure that the politically binding Code of Conduct on Arms Exports adopted by the EU Member States is improved to be legally binding and have an expanded content.
More information on the Presidency is available on the Internet website: www.ue.eu.int/newsroom. From 1 January the German Presidency website will be available on the official Council Presidency website.
2. ACP-EU NEGOTIATIONS
This month's ACP-EU Central Group Negotiations meeting at ambassadorial level scheduled for 16 December did not take place. According to an official from an EU institution, the meeting was postponed because the ACP had requested more time to discuss and develop further positions on a number of sticking points in the negotiations. According to the EU official, the ACP wants more time to develop a new position on the treatment of the private sector as the EU is not prepared to accept the ACP's request for a separate chapter on the private sector. In addition the EU is also not prepared to move on its position on the simplification of instruments. The ACP had initially requested for the retention of the STABEX (instrument to stabilise agricultural exports) and the SYSMIN (instrument to stabilise mineral exports), however the EU insists that all instrument be regrouped two main headings - a grant facility and an investment facility.
An ACP embassy official denied that the Meeting had been postponed because of the ACP's request for more time. According to the embassy official the request for the postponement was mutual. There is also some confusion as to when the postponed meeting will take place. According to the EU official, the Commission is proposing the 12-13 January 1999. The ACP official, on the other hand, stated that the meeting may take place on 21 December 1998.
3. EU COUNCIL NOT TO RESUME CO-OPERATION WITH TOGO
Following the European Commission's proposal to the EU Council to suspend Togo from the Lomé Convention, the Council has decided unanimously without debate to close consultations with Togo and not to resume co-operation with the country under the Lomé Convention. The Council considered that information provided by he Togolese government did not give proof that concrete measures had been taken to remedy the irregularities observed during the Togolese presidential election of 21 June. The Council however states that it will try as much possible not to penalise the civil society of Togo and support any initiative allowing Togo to comply with the 'essential elements' of the Lomé Convention.
The process for suspension from the Convention is established under article 366b of the Convention whereby, one partner (the ACP or the EU) can summon a party to the Convention for consultations if it is of the view that the summoned party does not comply with the 'essential elements' of the Convention relating to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. If consultations do not prove satisfactory to the accusing partner, it can unilateral suspend the accused party.
The Council states that its decision will be reviewed if there is any indication that Togo complies with the 'essential elements'. This demands that the EU carefully follow the conditions and the results of the internal political dialogue within Togo.
IN BRIEF
At an information meeting for NGO staff, academics and members of parliament on the Reality of Aid 98 hosted by NCOS on 8 December 1998, the head of the Belgian Government Department for Development Co-operation (ABOS), Mr. Marc van Craen said the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) had failed to come to an agreement on the untying of aid for Least Developed Countries. According to Mr van Craen the UK, among others, is opposed to the initiative. He however suggested that the untying of aid could go ahead with a smaller group of countries committed to it.
The Association of banana producers of the French Antilles has stressed, in a press release, that the EU must be determined in opposing the American position on the EU's preferential system of trade for traditional banana producers from the ACP.
The PAF will like to inform its readers that as it will be taking a Christmas break from the 18 of December 1998, the next edition of the PAF will appear on 8 January 1999. The PAF would also like to take the opportunity wish all its readers a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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