1 horizons n°4 40 horions r i b e a n 1 9 7 5 – 2 0 15 fa r i ca n...

HORIZONS No 4 | June 20151

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FEATURE

40 years and beyond: A story of solidarity Page 4-7

FEATURE

From Georgetown to Sipopo Page 8/9

SPOTLIGHT10 things you didn’t know about ACP 0

The ACP Group in Geneva Page 11

FOREWORD

President of the ACP Summit of Heads of State & Government Page 2

MESSAGES FROM OUR PARTNERS

Greetings & insights Page 12/13

HORIZONS

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HORIZONS N°4 The ACP Newsletter June 2015

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Foreword | Special Message

FOREWORD

President of the ACP Summit

It is with much joy and gladness that my country and I join in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of the ACP Group of States. I take this opportunity to pay homage to that band of extraordinary men and women of outstanding vision and dedication who helped to plant and nurture the seed that brought our Group into existence.

We can only look forward with confidence given our history and the impetus of that momentous Summit at Sipopo in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in December 2012. Our Group was built, and is bound, by ethos of solidarity, equality and mutual respect, inter-dependence and cooperation. Our Group has so much potential, and we should never leave the door open for any outside entity to jeopardise or question the foundation of our solidarity.

An anniversary is an occasion of not only celebration, but introspection as well. We need to look back from where we have come from, not with nostalgia, but rather, to reflect on our short-comings while seeking to build on our accomplishments - and there are many, so that ultimately, we can bequeath an organisation that should be in much better shape to the next generation of our citizens.

The reflection on the future of the ACP Group is on course, and I am pleased that we have acknowledged the imperative to explore south-south and triangular partnerships with emerging economies in Asia and South America. We should also deepen our intra-ACP relations by strengthening trade, investment and cooperation link-ages with each other.

I commend the good work on the future of the Group that the Eminent Persons Group and our Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries in Brussels are doing, a process which is so vital not only to the continuation of the ACP Group, but its re-emer-gence as the voice of all our peoples in their pursuit of sustainable development and a just and peaceful international order.

Allow me also to take this occasion to re-affirm my confidence and indeed that of my Government and people, in the choice of H.E. Dr. Patrick I Gomes as the new Secretary-General to be at the helm of our Secretariat at this critical period. Looking ahead, we all know that the next 40 years will be challenging ones. I wish to emphasise that in all our endeavors, the ACP Group should remain true to its core objective, which is the eradication of poverty and the promotion of peace, security and sustainable development of our countries.

I am of the strong opinion that the ACP Group is very well placed to be the vehicle for championing the attainment of those aspirations, and my Government and I stand ready to support the Group in the pursuit of those aspirations.

H.E Teodoro Obiang Nguema MbasogoPresident of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea President-in-Office of the ACP Summit of Heads of State

and Government

LEGAL NOTICE© 2015 ACP Secretariat. All rights reserved. Material may be reproduced or republished for non-commercial purposes with proper attribu-tion to the source.

The Horizons newsletter is produced by the ACP Secretariat and aims to inform our stakeholders of key developments and updates of the work of the ACP Group. The name “Horizons” was resurrected from a previous publication printed by the ACP Secretariat for a limited period in the years 2000. Contributions are welcome, provided they are relevant and fulfill editorial requirements. Please contact the ACP Press Office for more information.

Horizons Newsletter Special Edition – 40th anniversaryEditorial Committee: Mamour Alieu Jagne, Josephine Latu-Sanft, Lawrence Chilimboyi, Romaine Baghnyan and Harold GeorgeLayout & Design: Pitch Black Graphic Design,Berlin / The HaguePrinted by: Drukkerij van der Poorten

ACP Secretariat Avenue Georges Henri 4511200 Brussels, BelgiumTel +32 2 7430600Fax +32 2 7355574Email [email protected]

The ACP Group is the largest international organisation of developing countries, with 79 member states from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The main goal of the Group is to drive South-South solidarity and North-South cooperation for the eradication of poverty in ACP countries and their sustainable develop-ment and successful integration into the world economy. Originally brought together as a result of the Association Clause in the Rome Treaty of 1957 which established the European Common Market, the Georgetown Agreement of 1975 formally established the ACP Group as an intergovernmental association.

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SPECIAL GREETINGS

Chairman of the ACP Council of Ministers

Happy Anniversary ACP!

Four decades of cooperation is indeed a milestone to applaud and celebrate. As the Chairman of the ACP Council of Ministers, it has been a singular honour for me to witness the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States attain the state of maturity, self-aware-ness and confidence which it holds today in its 40th year.

The road to development is not easy – and it is not meant to be – but our 79 Member States, over the years, have bonded over similar struggles, histories and hopes in this regard. At the same time, we realise that there is still enormous untapped potential in our relations which needs to be vigorously and assiduously fostered, if the ACP Group is to thrive in the 21st century.

The global dialogue on a universal post-2015 development framework is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity where the ACP Group can make a difference. I join my colleagues in the belief that, for the ACP Group to truly play an active role in the inter-national community as well as the lives of ACP people, we need to focus our work programmes on domains where our large membership and accumulated experience in areas such as devel-opment cooperation and trade negotiations can bring an added value. As a Group, we need to engage in strategic partnerships, deepening our partnership with Europe and enhancing intra-ACP links, while also diversifying to include other potential collabora-tors such as the emerging economies in the global South.

As developing countries we have common goals, so let us defend and build upon our solidarity, in order to bring about positive change. On its 40th anniversary, the ACP Group must rise to the occasion and project a single and united voice to the world on key development issues that affect us all.

Hon. Meltek Sato Kilman LivtuvanuMinister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Republic of VanuatuChairman-in-Office of the ACP Council of Ministers

Secretary-General’s message

June 6th 2015 marks the 40th Anniversary of the signing of the Georgetown Agreement that brought into existence the ACP Group. It therefore presents an excellent opportunity to reflect on our journey so far, our experience and challenges, as well as to chart a clear path for the future of the Group, in particular to improve the effectiveness of the ACP Group of States as a global player. Originally conceived to coordi-nate cooperation between its Member States and the then European Economic Community (now the EU), the ACP has grown from 46 founding Member States to its present day 79 Member States, in the process becoming the largest inter-governmental, tri-continental organisation of developing countries with a permanent secretariat. This strength in numbers must however more and more be translated into decisive contributions in international fora – in trade, in develop-ment finance, good governance and global justice, in climate change, and in poverty eradication – in the interest of its Member States and some 920 million people.Over the years, the pursuit of Article 2 (c) of the Georgetown Agreement – to “promote and strengthen unity and solidarity among ACP States, as well as understanding between ACP peoples” – has continued to gain momentum, as was manifested most recently by the show of support and solidarity during the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, as well as the devastation caused by cyclone Pam in the Pacific. Indeed, this solidarity had been envisaged as far back as the spring of 1974, when Babacar Ba, then Minister of Finance for Senegal acting as ACP spokesman during the negotiations that preceded the Lomé Agreement, said: “You have before you not three groups expressing harmonised positions with one voice, but a single group of ACP coun-tries which want to recognise their common destiny and the unshake-able desire to achieve positive results at these negotiations”.Looking ahead, our Heads of State and Government have already given clear direction as to our journey into the future, when at the 7th ACP Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, they made an under-taking “to work collectively and in a concerted manner to ensure optimum use of the considerable natural resources and human capital that our States possess, in order to maintain and further boost their growth and development by joining with our partners to take advan-tage of the perspectives and new opportunities offered to us, while bearing in mind that our future demands greater responsibility on our part to progressively own and lead our Group.” The peoples of the ACP Group of States demand no less, and as we celebrate 40 years of existence, we look forward to a rejuvenated, focussed, and confident organisation that will deliver on our shared development goals in the post-2015 era.

H.E Dr. Patrick I. GomesSecretary General of the ACP Group

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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.

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.

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 PacificStatestoachievetherealisationofthenewinterna-tional 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”.

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40 years and beyond:

A story of solidarity

40 ans d'existence et au-delà:

une histoire de solidarité


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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, demo-cratic principles and rule of law risked suspension of allocated EU funds.

The 21st 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 nego-tiations, the new ACP-EU Partnership Agreement was signed by 77 ACP countries and 15 EU member states, to last for a period of

Burundi community dance at the ACP Day celebrations on 6 June 2014 in Brussels. < left

3rd Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government in Nadi, Fiji in 2002. right >

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.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea at the 7 th ACP Summit.

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1997 Kyoto protocol adopted to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions

ACP milestones

Timeline

1975 Lomé I Convention signed by 46 ACP states, 9 EEC states

Creation of the ACP Group, with the signing of the Georgetown Agreement

1980 Lomé II Convention signed by 59 ACP states and 10 EEC states

1985 Lomé III Convention signed by 66 ACP states and 12 EEC states

1990 Lomé IV signed by 69 ACP states and 12 EEC states

1995 Lomé IV bis signed by 70 ACP states and 15 EEC states

2003 Second revision of the Georgetown Agreement expands development focus areas and bolsters organisation

2013 First meeting of the ACP Eminent Persons Group, constituted to recommend reforms for the ACP organisation

2010 Signing of the Second Revision of the Cotonou Agreement

2008 Sixth ACP Summit in Accra, Ghana

1999 Second ACP Summit in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

1992 First revision of the Georgetown Agreement

1997 First ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government in Libreville, Gabon

2000 ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement signed by 77 ACP states and 15 EEC states

2005 Signing of the Revised Cotonou Agreement by 78 ACP states and 25 EEC states

2009 Lisbon Treaty

1950 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 20151975

1950’s – 1980ACP countries gain independence

2002 Third ACP Summit in Nadi, Fiji

2004 Fourth ACP Summit in Maputo, Mozambique

2006 Fifth ACP Summit in Khartoum, Sudan

2012 Seventh ACP Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Leaders reaffirm their desire for the ACP Group to remain a united force

2011Set up of the Ambassadorial Working Group on Future Perspectives to strengthen solidarity of the ACP Group, and review options for the re-orientation of the ACP Group or the future

1961 Non-Aligned Movement founded

1973 Oil-producing Arab countries proclaim an oil embargo

1995 Establishment of the World Trade Organisation

First UN Climate Change Conference (Conference of the Parties – COP meeting) in Berlin

1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall

2001African Union founded

2009First Summit of the BRICS in

Yekaterinburg, Russia

2015Post-2015 Global Development

Agenda to be adopted

2000 UN Millennium Summit sets 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by 2015

2008 onwards Global economic downturn

2014China surpasses US to become

world’s largest economy in real terms

1965 Group of 77 established

1988 Creation of the International Panel on Climate Change

1992 UN Earth Summit brings about Rio Declaration on environment and development

1947 – 1991Cold War

Feature

20 years. Innovations were housed in a new three-pillar approach including trade, development cooperation and political dialogue.

A key change was a move from “trade preferences” towards “trade cooperation”. To align with WTO rules, the ACP Group now had to negotiate regional Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which would liberalise trade with the EU significantly over a given period of time. The EU would assist in reinforcing ACP economies.

Naturally, the EPA trade talks have been long, contentious, and problematic, with the ACP side constantly pushing for “devel-opment-friendly” structures.

In 2014, after almost a decade of negotiations, compre-hensive EPAs were finally concluded for the Southern African region (through the Southern African Development Community or SADC), West African region (Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS), and the East African region (East African Community – EAC), while a full EPA deal has been in place since 2008 for the Caribbean region (CARIFORUM). Talks with the Pacific, Central African and larger Eastern/Southern African regions have been slow to progress.

The Cotonou Agreement also gives a much more prominent role to civil society and the private sector, along with stronger support for democratisation and good governance. This fortified political dimension means there is also scope for sanctions if a

party violates any of the essential elements in the Agreement, such as human rights. Aid allocation also depends on perfor-mance reviews for ACP countries.

Intensified ACP political commitment

The turn of the century did not only bring change to ACP-EU relations. It also prompted a re-thinking process within the ACP Group itself.

In 1997, for the first time in history, the ACP Group convened a Summit of Heads of State and Government at Libreville, Gabon. At that 1st Summit, they laid down the guidelines for more specific roles to the ACP organs and reforming the Secretariat.

Subsequent summits in the Dominican Republic (1999), Fiji (2002), Mozambique (2004), Sudan (2006), Ghana (2008) and Equatorial Guinea (2012) focussed on solidarity, intra-ACP coop-eration, global governance and security, and economic partner-ship agreements. These meetings did much to revive the political impetus of the Group, and reaffirmed members’ solidarity in a world in flux.


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1997 Kyoto protocol adopted to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions

ACP milestones

Timeline

1975 Lomé I Convention signed by 46 ACP states, 9 EEC states

Creation of the ACP Group, with the signing of the Georgetown Agreement

1980 Lomé II Convention signed by 59 ACP states and 10 EEC states

1985 Lomé III Convention signed by 66 ACP states and 12 EEC states

1990 Lomé IV signed by 69 ACP states and 12 EEC states

1995 Lomé IV bis signed by 70 ACP states and 15 EEC states

2003 Second revision of the Georgetown Agreement expands development focus areas and bolsters organisation

2013 First meeting of the ACP Eminent Persons Group, constituted to recommend reforms for the ACP organisation

2010 Signing of the Second Revision of the Cotonou Agreement

2008 Sixth ACP Summit in Accra, Ghana

1999 Second ACP Summit in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

1992 First revision of the Georgetown Agreement

1997 First ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government in Libreville, Gabon

2000 ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement signed by 77 ACP states and 15 EEC states

2005 Signing of the Revised Cotonou Agreement by 78 ACP states and 25 EEC states

2009 Lisbon Treaty

1950 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 20151975

1950’s – 1980ACP countries gain independence

2002 Third ACP Summit in Nadi, Fiji

2004 Fourth ACP Summit in Maputo, Mozambique

2006 Fifth ACP Summit in Khartoum, Sudan

2012 Seventh ACP Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Leaders reaffirm their desire for the ACP Group to remain a united force

2011Set up of the Ambassadorial Working Group on Future Perspectives to strengthen solidarity of the ACP Group, and review options for the re-orientation of the ACP Group or the future

1961 Non-Aligned Movement founded

1973 Oil-producing Arab countries proclaim an oil embargo

1995 Establishment of the World Trade Organisation

First UN Climate Change Conference (Conference of the Parties – COP meeting) in Berlin

1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall

2001African Union founded

2009First Summit of the BRICS in

Yekaterinburg, Russia

2015Post-2015 Global Development

Agenda to be adopted

2000 UN Millennium Summit sets 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by 2015

2008 onwards Global economic downturn

2014China surpasses US to become

world’s largest economy in real terms

1965 Group of 77 established

1988 Creation of the International Panel on Climate Change

1992 UN Earth Summit brings about Rio Declaration on environment and development

1947 – 1991Cold War

Towards a new ACP future

The 7th Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea was especially significant. Noting key geopolitical shifts and global economic trends, the theme was forward-looking and critical: “The ACP Group in a Changing World: Challenges and Opportunities”.

The Summit recognized key developments that all pointed to the need to revisit the Group’s orientation as a development organisation. The shifting economic might from West to East, the rise of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) as emerging economies, the global financial crisis, secu-rity challenges in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and the Great Lakes region, climate change effects and the devastating natural disasters across the ACP regions, all called for new strategic approaches to poverty eradication and sustainable development.

Not only that, but changes within the European Union itself stirred some uncertainty amongst ACP members, as to what kind of cooperation may follow when the Cotonou Partnership Agreement expires in 2020.

The 7th Summit thus welcomed the work of the ACP Ambassadorial Working Group on Future Perspectives as well as the creation of the Eminent Persons Group, which were mandated to look into how to reposition the organisation to be more effec-tive as a global player.

The Summit’s outcome document, dubbed the Sipopo Declaration, outlined various focus areas (including peace and security, trade, energy, sustainable development, food security and climate change) and called for thorough reforms that will help the Group deliver better results in support of its populations.

Most importantly, the Sipopo Declaration confirmed the polit-ical will for the ACP Group to remain united and become stronger through South-South cooperation.

With the post-2015 global development agenda on the line, as well as the aspirations of 79 countries and 920 million people, the ACP Group, on its 40th anniversary, is compelled to take action.

Signature of the Lomé III Convention between ACP and EEC countries in 1985. © European Union < left

ACPstaffinGuyana,1975,afterthesigningoftheGeorgetownAgreement,including M. Seydou Djim Sylla, Executive Secretary of the EEC-AAMS AssociationCouncil(firstinthebackrow). < middle

MichaelO’Kennedy,IrishMinisterforForeignAffairs,ÉtienneEyadéma,President of Togo, and Bernard St John, Barbadian Deputy Prime Minister and MinisterforTrade,Industry,CivilAviationandTourism,PresidentinofficeoftheCounciloftheACPMinisters(fromlefttoright).SignatureofthesecondACP-EEC Convention in Lomé. © European Union right >

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Feature

FEATURE

From Georgetown ...… Desirous of consolidating and reinforcing the existing solidarity and unity of the ACP States, and of promoting improved coop-eration between their peoples on the basis of interdependence, complementarity and mutual interest

… Recognising the importance of regional integration, intra-ACP cooperation and cooperation among ACP and other developing countries as a means of promoting the socio-economic develop-ment of the ACP States

… Convinced that the realization of sustainable development, the eradication of poverty, illiteracy and disease as well as the gradual and smooth integration of the ACP States into the global economy are legitimate objectives reflecting the aspirations of our peoples

… Recognising the importance of solidarity and unity in cooper-ation among the ACP States; Desirous of enhancing the political identity of the ACP Group to enable them to act and speak with a single voice in all international fora and organisations

… Resolved to establish the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States to achieve common objectives so as to contribute towards the realization of a new, fairer and more equitable world order

TakenfromtheGeorgetownAgreement(2003revision)

“ Throughout the discus-sions [leading up to the Lome I Convention], extending over a year, the ACP never negotiated otherwise than as a Group and spoke always with one voice. It was often an African voice, sometimes a Caribbean or a Pacific voice; but always a single

voice that spoke for the ACP.” “ I took personal satisfaction in the conclu-sion of the EU-ACP’s Convention; but more in the evolution of the ACP … As the negotiations proceeded and the ambition for unity grew, I began to see the ACP as a group whose genesis was in the negotiations with Europe but which had to have an existence outside of those relations – the largest inter-continental group of developing countries working in functional unity.”SirShridathRamphal,formerMinisterofForeignAffairsofGuyanaandleadnegotiator on the ACP side for the Lome I Convention.

“ You have before you not three groups expressing harmonised positions with one voice, but a single group of ACP countries which want to recognise their common destiny and the unshakeable desire to achieve positive results at these negotiations.”Babacar Ba, then-Minister of Finance for Senegal, speaking to ACP-EEC

meeting in the spring of 1974.

“ At this Conference, we of the ACP Group speak immediately for over 180 million members of our 44 states. But we are conscious that we carry with us the hopes of the entire poor of the world. To our will we have added a growing maturity. We under-stand that we must learn to fashion regional groupings so that we can plan our economic development in a larger arena of opportunity. We are evolving new social structures which are aimed at creating more equitable systems of distribution amongst our people.”Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon. Michael Manley, at the ACP/EEC Ministerial Meeting,Kingston, Jamaica, July 25, 1974

“ But whilst we in the devel-oping world legitimately give priority to correcting the historical imbalance between ourselves and the developed world which has for so long arrogated to itself the right to dictate the pace, scope and condition of our economic develop-ment, we would be making

a fundamental error if we fail to recognise that, whatever the support we can get from developed countries and institutions in those countries,itisourownefforts,individuallyand collectively, that will provide the principal pillar on which we can build the future develop-ment of the Third World, and therefore of our ACP countries.” Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Dr. Eric Williams, at the ACP/EEC Ministerial Meeting, Kingston, Jamaica, July 23, 1974


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... to Sipopo… We are fully conscious and firmly convinced that at this historic juncture in the existence of our unique intergovernmental and tri-continental organisation, the demands for fundamental renewal and transformation are no longer mere options but unavoidable imperatives for strategic change.

… On the basis of the Georgetown Agreement, we resolutely reaffirm our determination to stay united as a Group grounded in the values of peace and solidarity, unified action and the identity that characterise us and we are committed to continuing and sustaining the relevance and effectiveness of our Group by deepening and enhancing the ACP-EU relationship as a unique

North-South Development Cooperation model, while developing diversified South-South and other partnerships, with an aim to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development in our States.

… As we envision a transformed ACP Group to become a major global player in supporting multilateralism that ensures peace, security, and democratic governance, we are determined to be a strong advocate within partnerships of developing countries that defend causes common to all humanity, advance the rich cultural heritages of our Member States and accelerate processes for regional integration that realize mutual benefits for our societies.

Articles 64, 65 and 69 of the Sipopo Declaration of the 7th Summit of the ACP Heads of States and Government.

“ If ever the ACP must speak boldly with one voice and with shared conviction, it is now. This Malabo gathering should be a call to reaffirm ACP unity and solidarity and send a message to the interna-tional community that the African, Caribbean and Pacific States is here to stay.”

“ The ACP Group has a comparative advan-tage that it must fully embrace and exploit. It represents a very large development and investment partner. The fact of our Group’s size attests to its potential collective strength. With this in mind, we should be prepared to take on new challenges such as the diversifi-cation of our cooperation partners.”Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, Hon. Dr Kenny D. Anthony, at the 7th ACP Summit in Malabo.

“ I believe the time has come for us to boldly take our future into our own hands. Leveraging on our collective solidarity, we must pursue new approaches that deepen intra-ACP trade, while accelerating regional inte-gration schemes that boost trade and investment.”

“ We have to put in place those economic and political fundamentals which would trans-form our economies and ensure development, in order to renew hope for the people of the ACP Group of States. We need to train our people in the relevant technology and harness their knowledge to overcome our over- reliance on agriculture and raw materials for our economic sustenance through our own South-South Cooperation.” Outgoing President of the ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government, H.E John Dramani Mahama, President of Republic of Ghana, at the 7th Summit in Malabo

Georgetown, Guyana was the birth place of the ACP Group, where the founding document of the institution was signed in 1975. Photo: Georgetown-guyana.com

7 th Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government held at the Sipopo Convention Centre in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

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Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT

10 things you didn’t know about ACP

1. The ACP Group is the largest intergovernmental association of countries in the world with a permanent Secretariat. Out of its 79 member states, 48 are from Sub-Saharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific. Of these, 39 are Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and 37 are Small Island Developing States (SIDS), giving the Group a unique insight and voice on global development issues.

2. The ACP Group is party to the most comprehensive North-South agreement in the history of international relations, through its legally-binding partnership agreement with the European Union. This 40-year old relationship between the two blocs of countries covers trade, development cooperation and political dialogue.

3. It is thanks to this partnership that African, Caribbean and Pacific member countries will be able to access €31.5 billion in EU assistance for the period 2014-2020 (otherwise known as the 11th cycle of the European Development Fund or EDF), either through national, regional or all-ACP schemes. In fact, in the ACP countries, most EU-funded programmes at the national or regional levels are made possible through the ACP-EU framework.

4. The ACP Secretariat co-manages a vast portfolio of major development programmes and projects, including those funded under the ACP-EU framework, and implemented by partner agencies. For example, in case of the FAO’s Action Against Desertification programme, the Participatory Slums

Upgrading Project (PSUP) implemented by UNHABITAT and the Hubs & Spokes trade capacity building programme implemented by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the bulk of financing comes via the EDF’s Intra-ACP envelope.

5. The ACP Group is a powerful negotiating arm in the World Trade Organisation, especially in the interest of developing countries. Former WTO Director General Pascal Lamy highlighted the “instrumental role” of the ACP Group in trade debates, in particular its “ability to bridge differences and coalesce around shared priorities and strategic positions.” The ACP Secretariat has an office in Geneva focussing on trade issues and relations with United Nations agencies.

6. Cuba is the only ACP member country that has never signed the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement. On 14 December 2000, the ACP Council of Ministers passed a resolution with immediate effect admitting Cuba as its 78th member, without Cuba having to be part of the ACP-EU framework. Amendments to the Georgetown Agreement in 2003 allowed countries to join the ACP bloc by virtue of geographical location and/or as a signatory to the ACP-EU accord.

7. The ACP Group aims to be a global leader in South South and Triangular Cooperation. At the 7th Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government in 2012, the President of the Summit, H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea proposed the creation of an “Economic Organisation of South-South Cooperation” to capitalise on the ACP’s concrete block of Southern countries.

Fijian youth performing the tradi-tional ‘meke’ dance at one of the ACP Day celebrations at ACP House in Brussels.


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8. The ACP Group is currently repositioning itself to be more effective and relevant on the international stage. This self-reflection and strategic orientation is being led by the ACP Committee of Ambassadors in Brussels, as well as the Eminent Persons Group, a 12-member panel that includes the former President of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as Chair, with the former President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo and former President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández Reyna as co-chairs.

9. The ACP flag and anthem were approved by the Council of Ministers in 2013. The colours of the ACP flag are symbolic. Green stands for fertility and natural resources in ACP coun-tries; yellow/gold is for the sun and warmth of ACP peoples; while blue represents peace, as well as the oceans that surrounds many ACP nations. The author of the ACP official anthem is Manuel Jimenez, a musician and parliamentarian from the Dominican Republic who won an international competition for the anthem.

10. The organisation’s headquarters is located in Brussels and includes about 90 staff members from all regions of the ACP Group. SPOTLIGHT

The ACP Group in Geneva

The ACP Group forms the largest negotiating constituency in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and has over the years become increasingly influential in trade negotiations. Set up in 2001, the ACP Geneva Office works closely with ACP ambassa-dors in Geneva, coordinating the Group’s preparations for WTO Ministerial conferences since the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001 to the last WTO Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2013.

Through specific proposals, the ACP Group has sought to ensure that development remains at the centre of the ongoing WTO Doha Development Round (DDA) of negotiations and that the interests of the most vulnerable members of the ACP Group – Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), are given due priority and are safeguarded in the negotiations. The ACP Group has reaffirmed the necessity to provide developing countries with mandatory special & differen-tial treatment, and the required technical, financial, and capacity building assistance.

The most recent and notable success of the ACP Group came during the negotiation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in the lead up to, and at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2013. In these negotiations the ACP Group put on the table a comprehensive proposal relating to Section II “SpecialandDifferentialTreatmentProvisionsforDeveloping Countries and Least Developed Countries” of the Trade Facilitation Agreement with the aim of consensus-building in order to ensure that the ACP Group interests were safeguarded. This proposal, which was designed to answer questions that had challenged ACP States and other developing and LDC members,

became in large part the basis for negotiations in the draft consolidated negotiating text on trade facilitation. This enabled members to reach agreement on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement at the Bali WTO Ministerial Conference.

In response to the ACP Geneva Group’s influence in the WTO negotiations, funding has been forthcoming from the European Union Multilateral Trading System Programme Management Unit (MTS/PMU) and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Trade Advocacy Fund (TAF) to enable the ACP Group, through the ACP Geneva Office, to engage a team of consultants to provide technical support to the Group through the production of specific proposals on the issues under negotiation in the WTO, and the holding of brainstorming workshops and meetings to discuss those issues.

The ACP Geneva Office has collaborated with other devel-oping-country focused organisations such as the South Centre, International Trade Centre and UNCTAD in addressing issues of particular interest to developing countries, including the ACP Group.

StaffmembersfromtheACPOfficeinGeneva,includingMr.MarwaKisiri(left)asheadandMr.FelixMaonera(right).

ACPflagsflyinghighattheSipopoCentreinMalabo,EquatorialGuinea.

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Messages from our partners


40 years of strong relations

Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development

2015 is a crucial year for interna-tional cooperation and develop-ment and one in which we cele-brate the 40th anniversary of the creation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. Over four decades, this unique inter-governmental organisation has served the interests of its members well and has proved to be an invaluable and effective partner to the European Union.

We have been close partners since the start and our relations have been consistently strengthened over the years. I would like to underline how much our working together has led to a distinc-tive and productive relationship, with strong principles at the heart such as equality between partners, reciprocal commitment, ownership of the development strategies by the partner countries, and the pivotal role of dialogue, all in pursuit of shared objectives.

Our cooperation has been carried out in the context of solid and comprehensive partnership agreements, with the first one signed in Lomé in 1975. The initial emphasis on aid and trade relations has gradually evolved to encompass a wide range of activities, focused on peace, security and stability, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, the rule of law and good governance. Our work in these areas is underpinned by strong structured dialogue mechanisms.

EU-ACP cooperation is a very successful model, reaching beyond national governments by recognising the role of parlia-ments, local governments and non-state actors. Throughout, there has been a shift away from the traditional donor-recipient relationship towards one of mutual responsibility and common interest.

Evolved contextMuch has happened over the 40 years of the EU-ACP relationship and positive results have been achieved in many areas of coop-eration. Alongside the growth of the ACP group to 79 members, the EU itself has enlarged to 28 Member States. Together, we represent a majority of states within the UN. The recent economic performance in the ACP region has been impressive, particu-larly in Africa, where most countries have enjoyed ten or more years of high, uninterrupted economic growth. Many countries have reached middle income status within the ACP Group. The fight against poverty has advanced, as reflected by the progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Future challengesWe cannot rest on the progress made as major challenges for human development and poverty eradication remain, and the results differ significantly between countries. Global and security challenges have substantially increased, carrying many conse-

quences over the short and long term. Other major challenges such as youth unemployment, increased irregular migratory flows, illicit trafficking, global environmental threats, urban-isation and the demographic evolution add complexity to the picture.

In this regard, 2015 is also a year of opportunity as the inter-national community will agree on the future global framework for poverty eradication and sustainable development. Several major international conferences are coming up in the second half of the year. The EU and the ACP group have many shared objectives and together we can play a key role in shaping the future focus and means of international cooperation. It is an opportunity we cannot miss.

It is with great pleasure that I have taken note of the ACP group’s decision to continue to develop the role of the organi-sation, as reflected in the Sipopo Declaration. It recognises the fact that fundamental renewal and transformation are no longer mere options but unavoidable imperatives for strategic change. This is also applicable to the relationship between the EU and the ACP group. In that spirit, I wish to deepen our relationship and strengthen our cooperation towards addressing the many global, regional and local challenges, with the final aim of bringing long term stability, peace and prosperity to our world.

A time to think outside the box

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria, Chair of the ACP Eminent Persons Group.

Congratulations to the ACP Group on your 40th Birthday!

For the last 40 years, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States has grown and prospered. From 46 members at its inception to 79 diverse members today, the Group soon will be 80 in number, with South Sudan joining. The ACP has done commendable work of promoting engagement and cooperation between its Member States, regional groupings and also with the European Union as well as with other international organisations.

On the international scene, the world has recently experienced many economic, financial and socio-political crises, which have proved to be obstacles to the economic and social progress of ACP countries. Other changes within its membership and with tradi-tional partners underline the need for a make-over of the ACP Group to position itself to play its rightful role in the emerging global order.

Looking forward, the ACP Group must continue to have a critical role to play in the enhancement of ACP’s political, trade and economic relationship within its membership, the European Union and with other emerging global players. New approaches must be envisaged to make a real difference for our peoples in areas such as human development, peace and security, good governance, building healthy democracies, trade and private sector development.


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Indeed at their seventh summit held in Equatorial Guinea two years ago, the ACP Heads of State and Government committed themselves to continuing and sustaining the relevance of the Group by deepening and enhancing the ACP-EU partnership as a unique North-South Development Cooperation model, while developing diversified South-South and other partnerships, with an aim to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development.

As it continues to chart its way into the future, the ACP Group of States should enhance further the collaboration and cooper-ation amongst their own members states, and also with genuine partners who provide real benefit for ACP peoples. In this regard, I am delighted to make a contribution to this process as Chairman of the ACP Eminent Persons Group. I believe that the new ACP must be differently identified, emerging out of thinking and acting out of the box.

In celebration of soli-darity and cooperation

Amina Mohammed, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning.

I wish to congratulate the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States on its fortieth anniversary. Through its instrumental role in fostering solidarity and cooperation among its Member States, the Group has contributed significantly to further the global agenda over the past four decades.

This year especially, the Group, along with the other members of the international community, will have the opportunity to take action to eradicate poverty and put the world on a sustainable development path. Together, the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa in July; the United Nations Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda in New York in September; and the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in December, will define our future for the next fifteen years and beyond.

Sustainable development is at the centre of the post-2015 agenda, and poverty eradication is its highest priority. Ultimately, the ambition of this agenda is to create a just and prosperous world where all people have the opportunity to fulfil their poten-tial in harmony with nature. Many of the issues of this debate are critical for the constituency the Group represents, and its voice needs to be heard.

As the international negotiations enter a final and crucial phase, I count on your continued support to our overarching objective of advancing sustainable development and a life of dignity for all.

Towards dynamism in the post-2015 era

Hon. Fitz Jackson, Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

It is with a joyful heart that I welcome the 40th anniversary of such an august organisation that has, over the decades, worked tenaciously for the benefit of the peoples of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, joining us together in a common struggle for economic justice, equality, freedom and sustainable development for all.

The ACP Group, for me, is a symbol of solidarity, friendship, camaraderie and joint action amongst developing nations as we strive to enhance the lives of our respective populations, transform our economies and become self-sufficient; as we seek to cast aside the dependency on foreign aid, to become better and accountable governments, and to contribute in earnest to a fairer world order.

I have been associated with the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) since the late 1990s. The value of having such a forum of such a diverse assembly of politicians and deci-sion-makers, from the North and across the South, debating controversial topics related to human rights, trade, and economic policy cannot be sufficiently expressed in a few words. Suffice it to say that the ACP-EU partnership has made distinctive break-throughs in promoting development-friendly agendas due to the political interaction that the JPA actively nurtures. Over and above that, I believe in the indispensable role of legislative institutions whether local or international, to provide democratic legitimacy in national and global governance.

I wish for the ACP to continue its existence for another 40 years. Like all institutions, the Group must be dynamic and agile in facing the development challenges of a 21st century globalised world. Our august institution must thrive, and be a more relevant global player for the post-2015 era, starting now! We must be courageous enough make constructive changes to our institutional structures and working methods for the sake of the 920 millions of lives we represent as a Group.

Congratulations once again, and long live the ACP!

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ACP Group a vital partner for gender equality

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women

I extend my heartfelt congrat-ulations to the ACP Group of States on its 40th anniversary. UN Women is proud to partner with the ACP Group, and we look forward to even stronger collab-oration as we work together to further advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Twenty years have now passed since 189 countries adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This extraordi-nary vision for achieving gender equality has led to progress on a number of levels. We have seen improvements in girls’ education at the primary and secondary level, and in women’s access to contraception. Countries have created institutions and ministries that support women, enacted diversity and equality programmes, and passed laws against inequality, including legislation to end violence against women.

We have seen unprecedented changes in some areas, but progress overall has been slow, uneven and not deep-rooted enough. No country in the world has reached gender equality and women remain just 22 per cent of the world’s parliamentarians.

One in three women will still experience violence in her lifetime. At our current pace, it will take 81 years to close the gender gap in economic participation and 50 years to achieve gender parity in politics.

The ACP Group is a vital partner in helping to change these statistics. ACP countries have made great strides in increasing access to education for girls at primary school level and in addressing women in poverty. But too many women still lack access to decent work and equal pay, and face an unpaid care burden which hinders their economic empowerment. ACP countries can pave the way for gender equality through effective policy, programming and advocacy work, and in the context of the future Cotonou agreement. For this, we must involve everyone – women and girls, men and boys, government leaders, the private sector, and civil society.

Ending poverty and realizing gender equality are within our grasp. This year we will finalize our post-2015 development agenda and set new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is a once in a generation opportunity to take steps to achieve substantial progress on gender equality. Achieving this will require transformative change that must be matched with an equally ambitious level of investment – and clever spending. Gender equality and women’s empowerment must be at the core of this year’s financing for development, post-2015 framework and climate change agreements.

The realization of women’s and girls’ human rights are funda-mental for achieving all human rights, for securing lasting peace and ensuring sustainable development. Our mission is nothing less than full equality, a 50-50 Planet by 2030, with measurable progress in the next five years. Let us continue to step up our efforts to lift women out of poverty and equip them with an equal chance to thrive, in ACP countries and around the globe.


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OUR MEMBERSHIP

ACP countries

79 countries 6 major regions 920 million people

Africa:Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cabo Verde

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Comores

Congo-Brazzaville

Congo-Kinshasa

Ivory Coast

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Caribbean:Antigua and Barbuda

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Cuba

Dominica

Pacific:Cook IslandsFiji

Kiribati

Marshall Islands

Federated States of Micronesia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Republic of Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Guyana

Haiti

Jamaica

Nauru

Niue

Palau

Papua New Guinea

Samoa

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname

Trinidad and Tobago

Solomon Islands

Timor Leste

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Nigeria

Rwanda

Sao Taome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Swaziland

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Observer Member: South Sudan

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