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THE COURIER, SPECIAL ISSUE NEW EDITION (N.E.) Editorial Staff Director and Editor-In-Chief Hegel Goutier The SPECIAL ISSUE C urierMARCH 2008 The magazine of Africa - Caribbean - Pacific & European Union cooperation and relations 50 years of ACP-EU Cooperation Not for sale ISSN 1784-682X SPECIAL ISSUE N.E. - MARCH 2008 CThe urier The The magazine of Africa - Caribbean - Pacific & European Union cooperation and relations C urier Editorial Committee Co-presidents the magazine of africa - caribbean - pacific & european union development cooperation Sir John Kaputin, Secretary General Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States www.acp.int Mr Stefano Manservisi, Director General of DG Development European Commission ec.europa.eu/development/ Table of contents THE COURIER, SPECIAL ISSUE NEW EDITION (N.E.) Editorial staff Director and Editor-in-chief Hegel Goutier Contributors François Misser (Deputy Editor-in-chief), OPENER RESULTS Debra Percival 19 Editorial Assistant and Production Development and relations with the ACP States: Success stories Joshua Massarenti Europe in action for 50 years 2 Science and technology: Contributed in this issue Cooperation on the road to emancipation 21 Marie-Martine Buckens EU’s 50th birthday: 3 Congratulations from the ACP Trade protocols and EPAs 23 Public Relations and Artistic coordination Public Relations Andrea Marchesini Reggiani (Public Relations Manager and Responsible for EDITORIAL NGOs’ and experts’ network) EXTENDING COOPERATION Joan Ruiz Valero (Responsible for Networking with EU and National Institutions) The need for Cotonou 4 EPAs: Trade for regional growth Artistic Coordination Sandra Federici and prosperity 24 HISTORY Graphic Conception, Layout Our privileged WTO dialogue 24 Orazio Metello Orsini Unique in the world: Arketipa partner, the 50 years of north-south cooperation 5 Contract Manager OUTLOOK Claudia Rechten ESPACE SENGHOR Georgetown: Tracey D’Afters The foundation of the ACP group 10 The future of ACP-EU cooperation 25 ultural centre promoting artists C from countries in Europe, ACP-EU Cooperation: Milestone events 11 Country strategy papers launch 10th edition Cover Africa, the Caribbean and the of development budget 27 Design by Arketipa Pacific, and cultural exchanges between communities through per- WHO DOES WHAT formance arts, music, cinema, to the holding conferences. It is a AT A GLANCE The institutions of ACP-EU cooperation 15 meeting place for Belgians, immi- grants of diverse origins and The ACP-EU Agreements 28 Non-State actors – bigger players in Cotonou 17 Contact European officials. The Courier 45, Rue de Trèves Espace Senghor An ACP Civil Society Forum on track 1040 Brussels Centre culturel d’Etterbeek for political recognition 18 Belgium (EU) Brussels, Belgium [email protected] www.acp-eucourier.info [email protected] Tel : +32 2 2374392 www.senghor.be Fax : +32 2 2801406 Published every two months in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese For information on subscription, go to our website www.acp-eucourier.info or contact [email protected] he satirical vignettes and illustra- Ttions presented in this issue (P. 3, 9, Publisher responsible 18, 25, 26 and 27) where realised by Hegel Goutier European and African cartoonists that Consortium have been invited to represent the Gopa-Cartermill - Grand Angle - Lai-momo European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights in the project The views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the official view of the EC Manifesta! (www.manifestaproject.eu), nor of the ACP countries.. realised by Africa e Mediterraneo asso- The consortium and the editorial staff decline all responsibility for the articles written by exter- ciation. nal contributors. Occhiello Opener Opener * Bernard Petit * Jacques Obia Development and relations with the ACP States: TH Europe in action EU’S 50 BIRTHDAY: for 50 years Congratulations from the ACP n addition to being an area of solidarity millions of people have benefited from this light of the partnership’s key principle. Signed n behalf of the ACP States, I take Giorgio Sommacal, Untitled, 2007, within its own borders (i.e. regarding development cooperation policy and its in the year 2000, the Cotonou Agreement is this opportunity to congratulate Manifesta! regional and social support, cohesion poli- schemes to, for example, combat hunger, pro- based upon this idea, consolidated by the adop- the European Union (EU) on its © Africa e Mediterraneo cy), the European Union is leading the way vide access to water, and build schools and hos- tion of the European Consensus on 50th anniversary as a political Iin promoting international solidarity, particular- pitals. All of these initiatives are a reflection of Development which was adopted in 2005. This Oand economic entity. Since the Treaty of ly in the case of the African, Caribbean and the values that are the essence of the European Consensus meant that a European vision (of Rome was signed on 25 March 1957, the EU Pacific (ACP) States. enterprise: solidarity, respect for human rights Member States and the European Commission) – the most successful regional integration and the rule of law. was defined, based on shared values, joint goals process ever attempted – has become a major This cooperation policy with the poorest coun- and principles, and greatly increased resources. player in world politics and an indispensable tries of the world was launched 50 years ago at After 50 years, now is the time to make an development partner of many developing a time when Europe’s founding fathers were assessment, draw lessons and look towards The keys for development are to be found in an countries. adamant about promoting peace and prosperity the future. array of policies focused on governance, in the interest of overall stability. Consequently, accountability and the adoption of an effective National interests do drive the policy initia- The assessment is that millions of lives have aid system, sector-specific strategies and trade. tives of individual countries. However, the been saved, people are living in a more digni- The key component of development is good success and endurance of the EU has shown fied way and economies are developing, prima- governance and the ACP States can count on that both national and collective interests in rily thanks to Europe. The EU is the world’s firm European Commission support and further an integrative setting need not be mutually leading aid donor and the economic operator aid incentives to encourage them to commit to exclusive. Therein lies a characteristic of the offering the widest market access to poor coun- this approach. Good governance is of funda- EU which demonstrates that unity in diversi- tries. However, this has not been enough to mental importance; the States need to guarantee ty is possible. This is an invaluable lesson for eliminate poverty in the world. Poverty is the each citizen impartial access to courts, adminis- the 79-member ACP Group, given its size scourge of the 21st century. tration, health, education and the opportunity and far-flung geographical locations around to enjoy fundamental freedoms. the world. The lessons are many Jacques Obia. © EC Photo Library and have led to rela- The way forward for the development The European Union has maintained its com- The ACP Group agrees that the Economic tions with the ACP process will be in our ability to take on mitments to the ACP States. This is remark- Partnership Agreements can be effective and States being recast in the board all the major problems in the same able considering the challenges that it has to efficient tools to achieve this objective, espe- spirit: globalisation, climate change, face as it expands its bloc boundaries, con- cially if they were truly development-oriented. energy access, migration management fronts new trading arrangements at home and To do so needs a strong and permanent political and a knowledge-based society. abroad, and attempts to cope with emerging impetus. The ACP Group is confident that this sociopolitical challenges in a globalizing underlying political commitment is shared by The European Commission believes world. The 10th European Development both the ACP and the EU, and will continue to that development is dependent upon a Fund is one of the latest illustrations of the be the main framework to steady our rich and dialogue between partners in a bid to EU’s willingness to sustain development dynamic partnership. meet all the challenges of a globalised world. If endeavours for the ACP States. the problems of poor countries are overlooked Once more, a happy 50th birthday to the today, the problems of security, health and the This is in full compliance with one of the European Union! economy will be intensified tomorrow because goals of the ACP Group which is to ensure Page 2 all regions of the world are now interdependent. the realisation of the objectives of the ACP- * Dean of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Committee of Ambassadors and Ambassador of the Bernard Petit. © EC Photo Library EC Partnership Agreements, and in particu- Republic of Congo. I This is Europe’s message for the future: taking lar, aim for the eradication of poverty, sus- 25 March 1957: Signing of the Treaty of Rome: Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs joint action with its partners to ensure develop- tainable development, and the smooth and (on the left); Jean-Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers, Head of ment in the interest of all. gradual integration of the ACP States into the the Belgian Delegation at the Inter-Governmental Conference (on the right). © EC Photo Library world economy. * Deputy Director General, European Commission, DG DEV I The Treaty of Rome. © EC Photo Library 2 SPECIAL ISSUE N.E. - MARCH 2008 3 Editorial History The need for Cotonou UNIQUE IN THE his special issue of The Courier celebrates It is not the first time that innovations in the Lomé- the 50th birthday of the European Union Cotonou Conventions have stirred the prophets of (EU).
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