ACP-EC PARTNERSHIP (COTONOU) AGREEMENT
(15329/05)
Letter from Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development
to the Chairman
DFID officials have been in touch with the Clerk
to your Committee about the above proposal. In writing about the
proposal, I thought it would also be helpful to provide an update
on where things stand with the revision of the Africa, Caribbean
and Pacific (ACP)-EC (Cotonou) Partnership Agreement, including
on a future level of EC assistance to ACP States.
Your Committee previously gave scrutiny clearance
to the revisions to the Cotonou Agreement (Document 8704/05) and
to the EU Council's position on the adoption of transitional measures
to apply most of the changes prior to the entry into force of
the revised Agreement (Document 9267/05). My letter dated 7 July
2005[52]
updated the Committee following the Parties' signature of the
revised Agreement at the ACP-EC Council of Ministers meeting on
25 June.
The enclosed Proposal (15329/05) amends the
existing Internal Agreement (which forms part of the overall Cotonou
Agreement) to incorporate the agreed changes to the procedures
for conducting political dialogue under Article 8 and for consultations
on the essential and fundamental elements under Articles 96 and
97 and the new Article 11b, regarding cooperation in countering
the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The changes
will be transitionally applied from 25 June 2005 until the revised
Agreement comes into effect.
You will have seen that Heads of State and Government
agreed in December on a future level of Community financial cooperation
with ACP States, to succeed the 9th European Development Fund
(EDF), as part of the overall deal on the EC's 2007-2013 Financial
Perspectives. This awaits endorsement by the European Parliament.
ACP States will be allocated €22,682 million (£15,536
million) in current terms for the period 2008-2013 under the existing
inter-governmental EDF framework, therefore meaning a 10th EDF.
The UK will contribute 14.82 % of this amount, (€3,361.5
million / £2,302.6 million). Hilary Benn made a short written
statement to Parliament on the outcome for ACP States before Christmas;
this was published in Hansard on 20 December (Annex A). The Commission
will now bring forward a proposal for a new internal financing
agreement for a 10th EDF, for the approval of EU Member States.
The revised Cotonou Agreement, including the
updated Internal Agreement and the new internal financing agreement,
will need to be ratified by all EU Member States and at least
two thirds of ACP States before coming fully into force. As stated
previously, these will be laid before Parliament as Command Papers
to adhere to UK Parliamentary procedures for ratification.
12 January 2006
Annex A
Extract from House of Commons Hansard
Written Ministerial Statement for 20 December 2005
EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Secretary of State for International
Development (Hilary Benn): The European Council on 15-16 December
agreed to establish a 10th European Development Fund (EDF) to
provide development assistance to African, Caribbean and Pacific
(ACP) countries that are signatories to the ACP-EU Partnership
(Cotonou) Agreement.
I am pleased to announce that the 10th EDF will
provide €22,682 million (£15,536 million) over the period
2008-13. This is a significant increase on the value of the 9th
EDF and the EDF will remain as an EU intergovernmental fund, both
important objectives of the UK Government. The UK share of the
10th EDF will be 14.82% rising from a 12.69% share of the 9th
EDF, reflecting our recognition of an upward trend in the effectiveness
of the Fund, and our commitment to increasing EU assistance to
Africa.
I believe that this represents a good outcome
for our ACP partners and I am delighted that the UK Presidency
was able to deliver this positive agreement after lengthy negotiations.
Member States will now negotiate an intergovernmental agreement
on the structure, allocation, programming and management arrangements
of the 10th EDF. This will present an opportunity to further enhance
the effectiveness of the EDF. I will keep the House informed fully
on progress.
52 Correspondence with Ministers, 45th Report of
Session 2005-06, HL Paper 243, pp 242-243. Back
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