Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé. Courtesy of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
“Special attention will be devoted to West Africa, a priority region for Spain”
“Special attention will be devoted to West Africa, a priority region for Spain”
In the rotating EU presidency Chair from 1 January to -30 June 2010, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, replies to our questions on ACP issues.
What are the Spanish Presidency’s priorities towards ACP countries?
The major priority of the Spanish Presidency regarding ACP countries will be the 2nd Revision of the Cotonou Agreement. Negotiations for the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) will continue. Special attention will be devoted to West Africa, a priority region for Spain, emphasising here development measures. Two major meetings will be held under our Presidency with ACP countries: the Joint EU-ACP Parliamentary Assembly (Tenerife), and the Joint ACP-EU Council (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso).
How important is it to put the Doha round on track?
The EU’s trade policy is characterised by its support for free trade, within the framework of international rules supported by all. The reference point for the drawing up of trade policies is the World Trade Organisation and, in particular, the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks. The Spanish Presidency attaches great importance to unblocking this negotiation process and is committed to reaching an agreement on issues for negotiation in the first half of the year. This objective is also shared by the EU. Under its Common Commercial Policy (CCP), it gives priority to a multilateral approach, which does not discount, however, other forms of negotiation such as free trade areas on both bilateral and regional scales.
Would you like to see Cuba become a member of the Cotonou Agreement?
This is a possibility that has already been considered in the past, but the decision to apply for adherence to the Group rests with the Cuban authorities. Our goal is, in any case, to foster relations between the EU and Cuba.
The European Commission is to put pen to paper on reform of the EU’s Fisheries Policy. What changes would the Spanish Presidency like to see, particularly with regards to illegal fishing in ACP waters?
From 1 January 2010, Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, came into force and is applicable not only in Community waters but also in waters subject to the jurisdiction or sovereignty of third countries. This is the main tool of the Common Fisheries Policy to combat and eliminate illegal fishing. The Spanish Presidency is aware of the importance of the economic, social and environmental viability of fishing activities and emphasises that it will be attentive towards the exploitation of fishing resources based on sustainability criteria both at the Community and at international levels.
Will you launch any initiatives in the area of gender equality in EU development policy?
Apart from promoting the adoption of an EU position in view of the special session to revise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to hold in New York next September, during its Presidency Spain will promote progress in European policy with reference to certain MDGs, for instance, MDG3: Promote gender equality and empower women. We shall support the approval of the ‘EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment’ which aims to enhance the effectiveness of EU gender policies and programmes to promote equality and the empowerment of women in developing countries. In March, in Valencia, we are hosting the 4th Europe-Africa ‘Women for a Better World Meeting’.