25/2/2005
Revised Cotonou Treaty Agreed

The European Union has successfully concluded negotiations with representatives of 50 African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states over a revision of the Cotonou Agreement whereby the EU undertakes to provide finance and other important assistance to 77 of the world poorest countries. The negotiations had been in progress for some 8 months with a number of difficult issues in debate including the desire on the part of the EU to make participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC) an integral part of the agreement.

Welcoming the agreement, Commission President José Manuel Barroso said that poverty reduction was at the heart of the Agreement, which was an important step in strengthening the efficiency and quality of the EU's partnership with ACP countries. He called it a balanced package with financing which aimed to be sustainable over the long term and stronger security and human rights provisions.

"These partnership agreements are an important building block for strong and durable development," he said

Financially the agreement will base the new European Development Fund on level of the previous one but increased for inflation, for growth and the effect of the enlargement of 10 new Member States.

The Cotonou Agreement, first signed on 23 June 2000 at Cotonou in Bénin, links the EU and 77 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Poverty reduction is its principal objective, to be achieved through political dialogue, development aid and closer economic and trade co-operation. A revision clause allows the Agreement to be adapted every 5 years

The outstanding issues under debate included the negotiations on a new financial protocol, a reference to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to the International Criminal Court and procedural issues. A number of other political issues had already been agreed at earlier meetings including an agreement to co-operate in the fight against terrorism and in the prevention of mercenary activities, and to improve political dialogue.