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1975–2015 & beyond 40years African, Caribbean & Pacific 1975–2015 Group of States Feature 4 bean ates s Etats Caraïbes ique 1975–2015 Le Groupe des Etats d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique & beyond 40years African, Caribbean & Pacific 1975–2015 Group of States 1975–2015 Le Groupe des Etats d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique The birth of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States came about when a number of developing countries from across these vast areas of the globe, recognised the power of a shared purpose and their common destiny as part of the global South. In 1973, 37 newly independent countries from Africa, 6 from the Caribbean and 3 Pacific Island states entered into negotiations with the European Economic Community (EEC) for a comprehensive cooperation agreement that would replace previous arrangements between the European powers and their former colonies in Africa. 40 years and beyond: A story of solidarity Geopolitically, it was an especially significant point in time. Following waves of independence in all parts of the world, there was a growing awareness of unity amongst developing countries, which also saw the creation of the Group of 77 (G77) and the dominance of North-South dialogue. The ACP countries, despite significant differences in language, economic size and political makeup, were able to forge a lucid and unshakeable unity in the desire for a new international world order. “From the [first meeting between ACP and EEC ministers] there was no turning back to separateness… Throughout the discussions, extending over a year, the ACP never negotiated otherwise than as a Group and spoke always with one voice,” recounts Sir Shridath Ramphal, who was Foreign Minister of Guyana at the time and spokesperson for the Caribbean region. Unity was the driving force behind successful talks that resulted in the first Lomé Convention, signed in February 1975. It was also the impetus for ACP ministers signing the Georgetown Agreement soon after, on 6 June in Georgetown, Guyana, establishing the ACP Group in its own right, with objectives beyond those in the Lomé Convention. 40 ans d'existence et au-delà: une histoire de solidarité Clauses in the original Georgetown document underscored common development goals and shared identity amongst members, stating the following aspirations in the preamble: • Desirous of consolidating and strengthening the existing solidarity of the ACP Group; • Resolved to promote and develop greater and closer trade and economic relations between the ACP States; • Resolved to establish the Group of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States to achieve the realisation of the new international economic order. Evolving ACP-EU relations For the next few decades however, the ACP Group would keep Europe as its main partner. ACP development programmes were financed out of the European Development Fund (EDF), dispersed in five-year cycles. The Lomé Convention set up joint institutions such as the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers, the joint Committee of Ambassadors and the Joint Consultative Assembly (now Joint Parliamentary Assembly) as a testament to “equal partnership”.
5 & beyond 40years 1975–2015 African, Caribbean & Pacific 1975–2015 Group of States Le Groupe des Etats d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique <strong>HORIZONS</strong> No 4 | June 2015 African, Carribean & Pacific Group of States Burundi community dance at the ACP Day celebrations on 6 June 2014 in Brussels. < left Le Groupe des Etats d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique 3 rd Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government in Nadi, Fiji in 2002. right > It allowed free entry of ACP goods into European markets, without having to reciprocate entry of European goods into the fledgling ACP markets. It also launched STABEX – an EDF scheme that compensated for losses in revenue from exports of products from the ACP countries to the EU as a result of fluctuations in prices on the global market. The renewal of the Convention in 1980 (Lomé II) for another five years, saw the addition of SYSMIN, a similar fund to STABEX, focused on supporting the mining sector. However, 10 years after the initial revolutionary agreement, harsh realities of international cooperation started to set in. In the third round of Lomé, administrative and political problems in some ACP governments witnessed the introduction of the idea of “policy dialogue” into the agreement. By Lomé IV, signed in 1990, there was a growing realisation that European aid had not done much to improve the state of ACP economies. Moreover, the post-Cold War European public appeared less interested than before in assisting poor countries. Despite difficult negotiations, the fourth Lomé Convention was signed for a period of 10 years, with a five-year mid-term review. This included a key chapter on human rights, along with stricter controls over the use of funds. This time, ACP countries that did not fulfill certain criteria linked to human rights, democratic principles and rule of law risked suspension of allocated EU funds. The 21 st century & the Cotonou Accord With the dawn of a new millennium, the global environment had changed dramatically. The World Trade Organisation, created in 1995 set new rules for international trade, while a series of major UN summits in the 1990’s on environment, population, and human rights amongst others revised standards for development cooperation. Meanwhile, the ACP countries had gone through major challenges linked to democratisation and structural adjustment of its economies, while the European Community had enlarged to include Eastern European and Mediterranean members that did not have historical ties to ACP states. A paper published by the European Commission further noted some sobering facts: despite generous trade preferences, ACP countries’ share of the EU market had actually been halved, from 6.7% in 1976 to 3% in 1998. Per capita GDP in sub-Saharan Africa grew by an average of only 0.4% per annum 1960-1992, compared with 2.3% for developing countries as a whole. Donor support dropped from 0.33% of donors’ GNP in 1988 to 0.23% in 1998. The partnership agreement signed in 2000 in Cotonou, Benin was therefore a watershed point in history. After strenuous negotiations, the new ACP-EU Partnership Agreement was signed by 77 ACP countries and 15 EU member states, to last for a period of President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea at the 7 th ACP Summit. Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Hon. Henry Puna and President Yayi Boni of Benin at the 7 th ACP summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
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