A ministerial meeting between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries last week initialled the text of the second revision of the Cotonou Agreement, which is the legal basis for relations between the EU and the ACP. Provisions were added which aim to address new security threats such as organised crime and trafficking, as well as increased support for ACP states in adapting to climate change and strengthening regional cooperation.

However, no agreement was made on the issue of migration, which proved a sticking point in the negotiations.

Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced that ministers had agreed to continue working on the migration article and report to the Joint Council, as they had not had sufficient time to come to a stronger conclusion. EU and ACP states agreed in a joint declaration to strengthen and deepen their dialogue and cooperation in the area of migration. Dialogue should end in time for the report on progress to be realized during the next joint ACP/EU Council in Ouagadougou on 3-4 June.

A recent briefing paper by the Concord Cotonou Working Group explains the situation: "The revision of Article 13 on Migration of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement aims at bringing the current provision into line with the Global Approach to Migration centered on three pillars: legal migration, fight against illegal migration and the synergies between migration and development."

It continues: "However, there is a real danger that the fight against illegal migration, strongly advocated by the EU side, is prioritized and that ODA is used as a means and incentive to encourage legal and policy frameworks in origin and transit countries to limit migration and restrict migrants' rights."

The revised accord is set to be formally adopted at the next ACP-EU Ministerial Council in Ouagadougou on 3-4 June.

Read Concord's briefing paper here: Concord Europe