Who does what
The institutions of ACP-EU cooperation
The institutions responsible for the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement are the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors and the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) which groups representatives from the European Parliament and the Parliaments of the ACP States.
Chalk drawing of a map of Europe
© EC Photo Library
The ACP-EU Council of Ministers
Comprised of ministers of the ACP States and members of the EU Council of Ministers and the European Commission, it is presided over in rotation by a European minister and an ACP minister. The Council meets once a year and whenever the presidency deems it necessary. Its mission is to conduct political dialogue, adopt policy guidelines and take decisions to apply the Agreement as well as to resolve problems that present obstacles for the implementation of cooperation.
The Council examines and takes into account resolutions and recommendations of the ACP-EU JPA. It also meets with the economic and social partners and other civil society stakeholders. Decisions of the Council can be binding.
Find out more:
www.acp.int/en/parliamentary_assembly_e.htm
www.eu2007.de/en
www.consilium.europa.eu
The ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors
This is formed of permanent representatives of the EU and the European Commission alongside ambassadors to the EU of the ACP States and is alternately chaired by an ACP or a European diplomat. Its mission is to assist the Council of Ministers in accomplishing its tasks and to act when necessary to carry out any mandate which the Council of Ministers may entrust to it. It also prepares Council meetings.
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The Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA)
This is one of the most original institutions of ACP-EU cooperation. It is made up of an equal number of representatives from the European Parliament and the parliaments of the ACP States; however the latter are often replaced by the ambassador of the country in question. Its role is to promote democratic processes through dialogue and consultation, facilitate better understanding between the peoples of the EU and the ACP States, and generate public interest in development issues. It debates and then submits resolutions and recommendations to the Council of Ministers with the aim of achieving the objectives of the Cotonou Agreement. It also seeks to strengthen regional integration in the ACP countries and cooperation with the parliaments of the ACP countries and the Pan-African Parliament.
Find out more:
www.acp.int/en/parliamentary_assembly_e.htm
www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp
The Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE)
A joint ACP Group and EU institution created in 2000, in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement, the CDE manages (under European Commission supervision) the Pro€Invest partnership programme that allocates €100 million from the European Development Fund. Its aim is to support the development of ACP private sector companies, with particular emphasis on encouraging technology transfers and penetrating new markets. The CDE is a continuation of the Centre for the Development of Industry (CDI) that was created in 1977 under the Lomé I Convention.
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The Technical Centre for Agricultural Cooperation (CTA)
Set up in 1983 within the framework of the Lomé Convention, the CTA’s mission is to develop and provide services that improve access by the ACP countries to information on agricultural and rural development, and to strengthen the capacity of these countries to produce, exchange and exploit information in this field.
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The European Commission
Charged with implementing EU common policies, including development policy (a competence it shares with the individual Member States), the European Commission is the EU’s executive body responsible to the European Parliament and as such is guardian of the Union treaties, initiator of legislation and engine for the harmonisation of European policy in this field. It is the Commission that manages the European Development Fund (EDF) that has a global budget under the 10th EDF of €22.6 billion for 2008–2013.
Find out more:
http://www.ec.europa.euACP Secretariat
Set up by the Georgetown Agreement (1975), the ACP Secretariat, based in Brussels, is charged with the administrative management of the ACP group. It is responsible for implementing the group’s international policy as well as organising and coordinating cooperation policy. Placed under the authority of the Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government, the Council of Ministers and the Committee of Ambassadors, its mission is to carry out tasks conferred by these institutions and by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. It helps implement the decisions taken by these bodies and assists them, as well as the joint bodies set up in the framework of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreements.
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http://www.acp.intEconomic and Social Committee
A consultative assembly of European economic and social partners, the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) allows its voice to be heard through formal opinions submitted to the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, including the field of development policy. Its external affairs section follows up relations between the EU and its partners in the rest of the world, including the ACP zone. This is done through the intermediary of a Monitoring Committee, a Joint Consultative Committee and a Contact Group. Close relations with the economic and social partners in the ACP countries have been established to discuss matters of common interest and the strengthening of civil society. Article 6, Chapter 2 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, mentions economic and social partners, including trade union organisations among the non-state actors of cooperation. Article 6 does not mention explicitly the ESC, which is a European institution. However, the role of the ESC has been strengthened by the 2000 Cotonou Agreement. In Protocol I to this Agreement, EU and ACP Ministers made this body responsible for organising meetings with ACP-EU economic and social interest groups. It is considered as the architect of civil society’s participation in ACP-EU relations.
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The European Investment Bank (EIB)
An EU body granting long-term loans, the EIB is one of the principal development partners for most of the ACP countries and overseas countries and territories with constitutional links with the EU dating back 30 or more years. In particular, it manages the Cotonou Investment Facility (€1.7 billion) as well as contributions out of its own funds (€2 billion). It has five regional offices in ACP countries: Dakar (West Africa), Nairobi (East and Central Africa), Pretoria (Southern Africa), Fort-de-France (Caribbean) and Sydney (Pacific).
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