AFRICA TRADE NETWORK ACP Civil Society Seminar on Post-Cotonou, Accra, 20-22 March, 2018
introductory: ACP’s “(non-) mandate”
not a draft directive for negotiations (compared to EC)
- remains to be adopted, hopefully at Lome Council of Ministers in May 2018
- but state of preparation not clear
possible raw materials
- “The ACP we want” (May 2017 version) (adopted November, 2016)
- Brussels Based African Ambassadors Contribution, 2/3/2018
acp sec’t work programme
[per Sheila Sealy Monteith, Jamaican Amb. to EU and Chair of ACP Committee of Ambassadors, Inaugural Statement 15/2/2018]
priorities of ACP Ambassadors
- elaborate of core-guiding principles for post-Cotonou negotiations
- Central Negotiating Group and Technical Negotiating Teams work on entrusted tasks
- articulation and presention of solid draft negotiating mandate for adoption by Ministerial Council of ACP in Lome Togo
- revision of Georgetown Agreement
work plan
- complete composition of groups
- substantive work on CNG and TNT commence in March (on the basis of drafts from the secretariat)
- Meetings of Committee of Ambassadors in February, Marh and April.
- Early May Meeting to conclude planning for Lome, etc;
allowances will be made for inputs from regional organisations and other stake-holders to bre included as the process unfolds
ACP We Want
- Vision, Goals and Rationale
ACP Group as leading transcontinental organization working in solidarity for improved lives
– Case for Political Commitment and Engagement by ACP
– Structural, Institutional and Governance Reforms
– Secure Financial Stability for the ACP (as a structure)
- Strategic Pillars
– Trade, Investment, Industrialisation and Services
– Development Cooperation, Technology, Science and Research and Innovation
– Political Dialogue and Advocacy
- Future Relations With EU
ACP We Want III – Future with EU
- Future Relations with EU
- Enhancing special historical relationship with Europe
- Changing context – ACP has expanded, emergence of China, engagement with rest of rhe world
- Post-Cotonou
Post Cotonou
- Ambition for a legally-binding agreement
- Clear unified and well-articulated message by members states and supporters
- Increase bargaining power and attractiveness to EU through coordination, dialogue and leverage its numbers
ACP We Want III – Post -Cotonou
- Purpose
- Learn Lessons of past
- Consistency with SDGs
Guiding Principles
- Equality
- Revisit the Meaning of Development
- Cotonou Acquis
- Political and Policy Dialogue
- Proactive ACP
Road Map
- CNG; TNC
- Technical Studies Where Necessary
Africa Brussels Ambassadors
Paper of 3/2/2018
Preamble
Principles
- Beyond donor-recipient relationship; Promoting African Unity; continental dimension of AU-EU; Agenda 2063, etc
Operative Part: Two scenarios
- Do we want a stronger Africa in a reformed ACP post-2020?
OR
- Do we want a stronger AU-EU Strategic Partnership excluding the ACP?
- fin Presented by Tetteh Hormeku