ACP and EU Ministers talk migration, trade and South Sudan

Migration, European Union support to South Sudan and trade issues topped the agenda of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers held on May 31st in Brussels.  

Chairing the meeting, Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Jănos Martonyi, whose country was, at the time, in the EU’s rotating presidency chair, said that migration is currently a very sensitive issue in the EU. Migration problems will only be resolved, he said, if the EU strengthens its cooperation with the countries of origin of migrants: “We will keep the issue on the agenda and continue our work.”

The joint ACP-EU Council reached an agreement on easing the way for South Sudan’s admission to the Cotonou Convention, if the country applies for membership. South Sudan became independent on June 9th 2011. ACP Secretary General, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who was acting co-chair of the meeting, said that the country faces huge challenges such as a complete lack of transportation, energy and social infrastructure. The EU has, to date, allocated €200M to help develop the new state. The Hungarian Foreign Minister stressed that the EU should not forget about North Sudan, which also faces serious economic and social problems.  

EU Ministers also regretted the slow pace of negotiations on concluding Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) - free trade agreements - between EU and ACP states. The Caribbean region, CARIFORUM, is the only regional grouping to have signed so far. “In spite of the gaps between the philosophical and legal approaches of the negotiating partners, reaching an agreement is in the interest of both parties,” said Minister Martonyi.

ACP Ministers also debated trade issues at their meeting 27th-28th May in Brussels, which preceded the joint Council. “To all intents and purposes, the international trading regime is not evolving in a manner as would take on board the development needs of the poorest countries,” said Secretary General Chambas.  Rising fuel and food prices were both hindrances to poverty alleviation as well as the challenges of climate change and the phenomenon of land-grabbing for biofuels cultivation, which threatens to undermine food security and livelihoods of millions of people.  

The future of the ACP group after the expiry of the Cotonou Convention (2000-2020) was also on the agenda. The ACP has set up its own working group to look at options under the auspices of Ambassador of Mauritius in Brussels, Sutiawan Gunessee. “In my humble view, the ACP group must take a lead in the process and decide on its own future rather than to be caught by surprise on the eve of the expiry of Cotonou 2020,” Secretary General Chambas told assembled journalists. The ACP working group in the EU Council is expected to set up a reflection group to define relations with ACP nations post-2020.

European Commission proposes €30bn for new EDF

The European Commission’s proposals for the EU budget 2014-2020, foresee €29,998M for ACP countries under a new European Development Fund (EDF) and a further €321M for the EU’s Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). Discussions with the 27 EU Member States, who must approve the final package, are still at a very early stage.

All ACP countries, bar South Africa and Cuba, receive development funding from the EDF, which has traditionally been financed directly by EU Member States.  The proposed sum compares with the  10th EDF’s (2008-2013) €22,682M budget out of which €21,966M is allocated to ACP countries and €286M to the OCT with €430M going to the European Commission to support EDF implementation.

In the EU’s proposed financial perspectives, 2014-2020, a €70bn sum is proposed for external relations under the budget heading, ‘Global Europe’, or an increase of 71 per cent for external policies - other than with ACP countries - compared with the current 2007-2013 budget. This budget heading includes a €16bn sum for European Neighbourhood Policy countries of the Middle East and North Africa and €21bn for a development and cooperation instrument to contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular, poverty alleviation and improving education and health.

Debra Percival