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SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 26 th MEETING OF THECOUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS(Brussels, 8TH TO 10TH DECEMBER 1980) |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. OPENING AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 1
II. APPOINTMENT OF THE RAPPORTEUR 1
III. ADOPTION OF THE SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 25TH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS
(Special Session on Intra-ACP Cooperation) 1
IV. EXAMINATION OF THE REPORT OF THE ACP COMMITTEE OF AMBASSADORS TO THE 26TH SESSION OF ACP COUNCIL
OF MINISTERS 2
PART I: ACP/EEC RELATIONS 2
A. Trade Cooperation 2
1. Surplus Agricultural Products 2
2. Accession of Greece to the Treaty of Rome and the Convention of Lomé 4
3. ACP Exports of Textiles to the Community 6
4. Financing of ACP participation in trade fairs and exhibitions 7
5. Other issues 8
a) Evaluation of ACP-EEC trade under Lomé I 8
b) The Community's proposals for a new scheme of generalised tariff preferences beginning in 1981 8
c) Rum 9
d) Bananas 9
e) Community's regulations on tomatoes, carrots and onions 10
f) Presentation of the Lomé II Convention to the GATT 10
B. Customs Cooperation 10
C. Stabilization of Export Earnings 11
D. System applicable to Minerals 12
E. Financial and Technical Cooperation 12
F. Least Developed Landlocked and Island ACP Countries 13
G. Agricultural Cooperation 13
H. Industrial Cooperation 13
I. Relations with the Consultative Assembly 13
J. Entry into force of the Lomé II Convention 14
K. Act of signature by St. Vincent and the Grenadines of the
ACP/EEC Convention 14
I. Official Publication of the Second ACP/EEC Convention
and Related Documents 14
M. Requests for accession to the Lomé II Convention and the
Georgetown Agreement by Vanuatu 15
(ii)
PART II: INTRA-ACP COOPERATION 15
PART III: INTERNAL ACP MATTERS 16
V. EXAMINATION OF THE 1981 DRAFT BUDGET ESTIMATES OF THE ACP GENERAL SECRETARIAT 16
VI. CONSIDERATION OF OTHER FINANCIAL MATTERS 18
VII. REQUEST FOR THE ACP GENERAL SECRETARIAT TO SERVICE THE ACP REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE JOINT CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY 20
VIII. REQUEST FOR THE ACCESSION TO THE LOME II CONVENTION AND THE GEORGETOWN AGREEMENT BY COOK ISLANDS 21
IX. ELECTION OF THE NEW BUREAU OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 22
X. VENUE AND DATE OF THE NEXT ACP/EEC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING 23
XI. DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS' MEETING 23
XII. MANDATE FOR EXAMINING THE REQUEST BY THE STAFF OF ACP GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR SALARY ADJUSTMENT 24
XIII. THE CLOSING SESSION 24
FINAL REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE
26TH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS
I. OPENING AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The 26th Session of the Council of ACP Ministers was held from 8 to 10 December 1980 at ACP House in Brussels. The proceedings were presided over by Dr Z F ONYONKA, The honourable Minister for Economic Planning and Development, President of the Council of ACP Ministers.
The opening address made by Dr ONYONKA at the beginning of the meeting is herewith attached in Annex I.
II. APPOINTMENT OF THE RAPPORTEUR
The Council next adopted the proposed agenda(1) and unanimously approved the nomination of Citizen LENGEMA DULIA YUBASA, Zaire's Secretary of State for international cooperation as Rapporteur for the meeting.
III. ADOPTION OF THE SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 25TH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS (Special Session on Intra-ACP Cooperation) [Doc ACP/626/80 Rev 2/]
The Council adopted without any amendment the summary record of the Special Session on Intra-ACP Cooperation held in July this year in Montego Bay (Jamaica).
IV. EXAMINATION OF THE REPORT OF THE ACP COMMITTEE OF AMBASSADORS TO THE 26TH SESSION OF ACP COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (Doc ACP/872/80 (Amb.Rev.1)
The above report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors, H.E. Mr S. NANDAN, Ambassador of Fiji. In his statement (2) covering the three main areas of the report-namely ACP/EEC relations, Intra-ACP Cooperation, Internal ACP Matters.
The Chairman apprised the Council of major developments relating to the functioning of the ACP Group since the last ministerial Council highlighting the unresolved issues in each area of activity.
PART 1: ACP/EEC RELATIONS
A. Trade Cooperation
1. Surplus Agricultural Products
The Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors, outlined the essential features of this problems as contained in the Report of the Committee of Ambassadors to the 21st Session of the Council of ACP Ministers.
In his introductory Statement to the Council, he indicated that this issue had featured in almost very Council Session since July 1976. During this four-year period and despite the various mandates emanating from Council, the Community had, so far, failed to concede to the ACP request to have access, at preferential prices and payable in local currencies, to some of their agricultural products in surplus within the Community market. He pointed out that the frustrations of the ACP, the recalcitrance on the part of the Community and delays caused by the Community which had characterised the four-year effort of the ACP on this matter had continued in spite of the fact that the Consultative Assembly, the European Parliament and the Council of ACP as well as EEC Ministers had clearly recognised the need for making available these product to the ACP States.
Moreover, the frustrations of the ACP on this matter had been aggravated by the fact that while the Community had refused to provide these products to the ACP States, it had continued to assist third countries with these products.
In his additional remarks on this matter to Council, H.E. Ambassador INSANALLY of Guyana, Chairman on the Trade Cooperation Sub-Committee charged with this subject, pointed out that the problem for consideration by Council related to the definition of the terms of reference for the Joint Working Party agreed to by the 5th Session of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers in Nairobi. He indicated that the Community was trying to limit the activities of the Joint Working Party to a mere explanation of the existing mechanisms of the Community's Common Agricultural Policy and the possibilities of using them to export cereals, milk products and sugar to the ACP States. The ACP would, however, like to see the scope of the Joint Working Party extended to include the ACP request to obtain guaranteed supplies of these products at concessional prices and in payment arrangements which take into account their endemic balance of payments difficulties.
The Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Trade Cooperation further pointed out that while the ACP had rejected these proposals, it was necessary to give directions as to what needs to be done as priority. In this regard, he indicated that it was necessary for Council to treat this issue with the critical political importance it deserves. Thus, while the ACP continued with bilateral political
pressures on the Community Member States, Council needed to mandate its President to make contacts with his European counterpart with a view to appealing to the Community to widen its interpretation of the Council's mandate given in Nairobi.
The Council, after its extensive consideration of this matter, decided to:
- adopt the Committee of Ambassadors' Report;
- ask for an appropriate resolution on this matter;
- direct the Secretariat to undertake a thorough study on particular cases with the assistance of the other international organizations, for example UNCTAD, with a view to assisting the ACP negotiators with the Community on this matter;
- mandate its President to make contact with his European counterpart to express the disappointment of the ACP on the progress for a satisfactory solution on this matter and with a view to appealing to the Community to widen its interpretation of the mandate given by the 5th Session of the Joint Council in Nairobi.
2. Accession of Greece to the Treaty of Rome and the Convention of Lomé
The Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors in introducing this item to Council pointed out that Greece, after having been associated with the Community since 1962, will become the Tenth Community Member State on 1st January 1981.
This enlargement of the Community, however, requires the Community and the ACP, in accordance with Article 181, to sign a protocol embodying the appropriate measures of adoption and transition. Despite the Community's assurance, and Council's decision in Nairobi that negotiations should take place "sufficiently early" at the ACP/EEC Committee of Ambassadors' level, it was not until October that the Community approached the ACP negotiations on this matter.
Furthermore, the Community agreed with Greece, under the Treaty of Accession, on the substance of the Protocol without consulting the ACP and only informed the ACP after that it would not be possible for the ACP to change the substance of the Protocol as Greece could not grant ACP States treatment more favourable that it grants to the other Member States of the Community. The Protocol concerns certain products on which Greece would retain tariffs against all import, including those from the ACP States, throughout Lomé II. At the same time, however, the Community does not export to the Greek market any of these products. These are incense, pyrethrum extract, raw waxes, essential oils of geranium, clove, ylang ylang, wood, rum, jute hemp sacks, unwrought lead, cocoa, beans, pineapple juice.
Moreover, while the Protocols allows Greece, throughout Lomé II to treat products from the ACP States less favourably than the other Member States of the Community are committed to do, the ACP would be bound, by the Protocol, to treat all Greek products in exactly the same way as they treat products from other Member States of the Community.
In view of the importance of this matter for the ACP, particularly in view of the precedence that it would set for the upcoming cases of Spain and Portugal, he requested Council to accept:
(1) that the ACP should not be bound by the obligations entered into under Article 9,2 (a) and Annex XXVIII of Lomé II in the case of Greece during the transitional period only;
(2) to withdraw from the draft Protocol, the list of products submitted to it by the ACP, and
(3) appropriate corrective measures to be built into the Protocol in the even that Greek exports to the Community's market caused concern the ACP.
Council accordingly took note of the report and requested for a resolution on these lines.
3. ACP Exports of Textiles to the Community
The Chairman of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors pointed out to Council that the position of ACP textiles in the Community market continued to be uncertain. Up to as late as October this year, the Community was continuing to threaten the ACP with the possibility of imposing restraints on the already minuscule textile exports to the Community which average around 1.8 % of the Community's total imports of textiles and textile products at the same time, the Community continues to export to the ACP nearly three times the value of ACP exports to the Community. This threat by the Community was despite the fact that the provisions of Lomé II Convention provide for free access for all industrial products.
The Chairman accordingly, requested Council to mandate the Committee of Ambassadors to pursue its efforts for the Community to adopt a more favourable approach towards ACP textile exports and for the Committee of Ambassadors and the Secretariat to undertake a comprehensive study on the problems of the textile markets for ACP textiles.
Council accordingly took note of the report and requested for a resolution on these lines.
4. Financing of ACP participation in trade fairs and exhibitions
The Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors in a brief introduction of the subject to the Council said that the trade promotion provisions of the Convention were meant to promote ACP exports.
However, the interpretation the Community was giving to the provisions was unhelpful to the ACP cause.
Specifically, the Community interprets Article 22 of the Convention to mean that all national participation in trade fairs and exhibitions would be financed solely from the national indicative programmes, as these constituted national activities. With regard to trade fair activities involving two or more ACP States, these would be financed from the regional fund as provided in Article 22 of Lomé II.
The ACP rejected the Community's interpretation of the Convention and pointed out that since in the implementation of Lomé I, all trade fair participation was financed from the regional fund, there should be no instance that fairs and exhibitions be financed solely from the national indicative programme under Lomé II. It was certainly not the intention of the negotiators of Lomé II that gains achieved under Lomé I should be lost under Lomé II.
The Committee of Ambassadors informs Council that while the problem of interpretation of the provisions of the Convention had to be resolved, the precedent established with regard to the source of financing under Lomé I had to be taken into consideration.
After a brief exchange of views on the matter, the Council took note of the report and endorsed the position by the Committee of Ambassadors that financing of trade fairs should come from the regional fund. It was also acknowledge that changing the source of financing trade fair participation by ACP States would result in innumerable difficulties. Council requested that an appropriate resolution to be drafted to reflect its endorsement of the position taken by the Committee of Ambassadors.
5. Other issues
a) Evaluation of ACP-EEC trade under Lomé I:
The Chairman of the Trade Cooperation Sub-Committee, H.E. Ambassador INSANALLY of Guyana, in introducing this item to Council, indicated that the Committee of Ambassadors was in the process of undertaking the directives given by Council in Nairobi on this matter. It was necessary, however, for the ACP States to provide the Secretariat with all the necessary statistical data and information in order to enable the Committee of Ambassadors to fulfill its mandate.
The Council took note of the report and the effort made by the Committee of Ambassadors so far on this item.
b) The Community's proposals for a new scheme of generalised tariff preferences beginning in 1981:
The Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors, in introducing the Report of the Committee of Ambassadors on this item to Council, stated that the Community, in September, submitted to the ACP copies of its proposals for a new scheme of Generalised Preferences. This system has the effect of providing greater competition from other developing countries to CP products in the Community market. While the developing countries, including the ACP, and the developed countries, including the Community, had endorsed this system, they have, nevertheless, recognised and accepted the needs for benefits enjoyed by the ACP in the Community market under Lomé Convention.
The ACP, after its analysis of this new Scheme submitted its observations to the Community. He called on Council to take note of the report and to request the Community to take fully into account the observations of the ACP in formulating its decision on this new Scheme.
Council accordingly took note of the report and requested for an appropriate resolution on this matter.
c) Rum
Council took note of the Report of the Committee of Ambassadors with regard of this matter.
d) Bananas
The delegation of St. Lucia highlighted the problems which the Caribbean suppliers of bananas to the United Kingdom market are currently facing. N a statement delivered to council it was explained that the purpose of the submission was for the information of the Council of Ministers with a view to obtaining its support in ensuring that Protocol No 4 suffered from no erosion as a result of administrative decisions. Any threat to the Protocol could be considered as a threat to the Convention itself (Statement attached).
St. Lucia's sentiments were supported by the Jamaica delegation who emphasized that in view of the considerable importance which the banana industry held for certain of the ACP States in terms of employment and as an earner of much needed foreign exchange, bold action should be taken to ensure that the marketing arrangements in the United Kingdom remain undisturbed.
Council took note of the statements and agreed that a draft resolution on this matter and on other concerns of the ACP Banana-producing States should be prepared and presented for Council's approval.
e) Community's regulations on tomatoes, carrots and onions
Council took note of the Committee of Ambassador's report with respect to the publication by the Community of a regulation on these products in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Lomé II Convention.
f) Presentation of the Lomé II Convention to the GATT
Council took noe of the Committee of Ambassador's report on this item.
Council took note of the report of the Committee of Ambassadors on this question. A separate report will be made available on this matter.
B. Customs Cooperation
Implementation of the Joint Declaration on the origin of Fishery Products (Anned XXI of Lomé III Convention)
The Chairman of the Subcommittee on Customs Cooperation inintroducing this section of the report of the Committee of Ambassadors to Council, requested the Council to note the problems faced by the Subcommittee in trying to carry out its work. A questionnaire was sent out to all the ACP States requesting them to supply the Secretariat with technical information on how the rules of origin affected, on the one hand, their exploitation of their fishery resources in the waters within their jurisdication and on the other, the export of fishery products to the Community market. Unfortunately, only three countries (Fiji, Mauritius and Senegal), have sent in theri replies so far. These replies were not representative enough to allow the Expert Group to formulate the ACP position on the matter. The question of the rules of origin worries many ACP States. For the Expert Group to take account of all the ACP problems, the ACP States should respond to the questionnaire. Without sufficient response from the ACP States, the work of the Expert Group cannot progress.
With regard to derogations, the Chairman of the Subcommittee pointed out that requests for derogations from Fiji relating to canned (white flaked) albacoretuna and Mauritius canned tuna, the Subcommittee had not received replies from the Community on these applications.
With respect to applications from Kenya and Malawi relating to the extension of derogation on artificial fishing flies, Mr Lesort proposed that Malawi's case be solved by exchange of letters. The Chairman of the Subcommittee on ACP Customs Cooperation demanded that a joint ACP-EEC Subcommittee on Customs Cooperation meet before the end of December to examine not only Malawi's case but also those of Fiji and Mauritius which have requested derogations for tunny. Mr Lesort replied that the European party was not in a position at that time to discuss the issue of a derogation for tunny. The Chairman of the ACP Subcommittee on Customs Cooperation maintained and repeated his request for a meeting before the end of December 1980, of the Committee on Customs Cooperation.
The Council of Ministers noted the report and the progress so far made in the work of the Expert Group. The Council hoped that the negotiations will be brought to a fruitful conclusion by the subcommittee assisted by the Expert Group.
In conclusion the Council of Ministers requested the delegates to urge their officials to respond to requests for information from the Secretariat, if the work of the subcommittee is to be expedited.
C. Stabilization of Export Earnings
Council took note of the deliberations of the Committee of Ambassadors' report ont eh stablization of export earnings and expressed its support for Upper Volta's transfer request (groundnuts and cotton) and Ethiopia's transfer request (sesame seeds) for 1979 year of application.
To this end, Council adopted Resolution - authorizing the Committee of Ambassadors to settle satisfatorily with the Commission the disputes arising from Stabex transfer operations for the 1979 Year of Application before the balance of the Lomé I Stabex fund is transfered to the first annual instalment of the Lomé II Stabex fund.
D. System applicable to Minerals
Council took note of the preparatory work on the establishment of the system applicable to minerals and has invited the Committee of Ambassadors to pursue its efforts so as to arrive, in the long-term, at a system which responds to the real problems facing the ACP countries whose economies dependent on mineral products.
E. Financial and Technical Cooperation
The Council of Ministers took note of the Committee of Ambassadors' report on Financial and Technical Cooperation presented by the Committee of Ambassadors and invites it to pursue its efforts thereon so as to achieve rapid results for the issues under discussion, i.e.:
1. Commission's Report to ACP-EC Council of Minsiters on management of financial and technical cooperation in 1979.
2. Draft General clauses and conditions of public works, supplies and service contracts financed by the European Development Fund (EF) in ACP States.
3. Draft ACP-EEC Council Ministers's Decision regarding the Rules of Procedure of the ACP-EEC Committee envisaged in Article 108 (b) of the Lomé II Convention.
F. Least Developed Landlocked and Island ACP Countries
The Council of Ministers took note of the Committee of Ambassador's report on this item and approved the measures taken by the ACP/EEC Committee of ambassadors to set up, as quickly as possible, the joint Subcommittee responsible for dealing with the specific problems of the least developed, landlocked and island ACP countries.
G. Agricultural Cooperation
Council took note of the outcome of the work relating to the implementation of the Chapter on Agricultural Cooperation, especially the setting-up of the ACP-EEC Subcommittee for Cooperation on Agricultural and rural development. Council also took note of the on-going deliberations for the arly establishment of the Technical Centre for Agrocultural and Rural Cooperation when the Second Lome Convention comes into force. In this regard, Council has called upon the Committee of Ambasadors to expedite the examination of the proposals concerning the functioning, financial regulations and Staff regulations of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation.
H. Industrial Cooperation
Council approved the Report presented in the area of Industrial Cooperation and specially urged members to submit the names of their representatives to the COD Adivosry Council in order to allow the later body to urgently met and examine the budget and the work programme for 1981
I. Relations with the Consultative Assembly
The Council took note of the Report of the Committee of Ambassadors on this matters.
J. Entry into force of the Lomé II Convention
The Council took note that the Lomé II Convention enters into force on 1st January, 1981.
K. Act of signature by St. Vincent and the Grenadines of the ACP/EEC Convention
The Council took note of the act of signature of the Second ACP/EEC Convention by St. Vincent and the Grenadines enabling that country to be regarded as signatory to the Second ACP/EEC Convention.
I. Official Publication of the Second ACP/EEC Convention and Related Documents
Council noted that in Lomé on 30th October 1979, it was found impossible to proceed to the signing ceremony of the Second ACP/EEC Convention until the ACP and the EEC had reached an agreement, to be recorded in an exchange of letters on certain clarifications relating to the joint Declaration on Article 64 of the Convention.
Council, therefore agreed that it was clearly understood and accepted that those letters would be an indispendable part of the agreement reached on this question and were to constitute part of the Minutes of the Signing as stated in the ACP President's letter.
Council therefore, requested the President of the ACP Council to convey the position and concern of the ACP to the EEC in an appropriate letter.
M. Requests for accession to the Lomé II Convention and the Georgetown Agreement by Vanuatu
Council approved the request by Vanuatu to accede to the Second ACP/EEC Convention and the Georgetown Agreement.
PART II: INTRA-ACP COOPERATION
Discussion on Intra-ACP Co-operation commenced with a general introduction by the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors.
Recallng the Council Mandates contained in the Montego Bay Plan of implementation of the Suva Declaration and Programme of Action which emerged from the 25th Session of the Council (Special Session) on Intra-ACP Co-operation, he pointed to their special significance in providing a basis for a more concrete work programme in this vital area of the ACP Group objectives; He informed the Council that the Committee of Ambassadors is in the process of implementing the Montego Bay Plan.
The Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Intra-ACP Co-operation thenr eported on the work of the Sub-Committee since the last Session of the Council.
This, he continued, invovled principally the examination of the Motnego Bay Plan with a view to identifying those mandates which should be incorporated in the 1981 Work Programme and Budget of the ACP Secretariat. In the light of the priority accorded by the Council to a number of aspects of the Montego Bay Plan, the Sub-Committee on Intra-ACP Co-operation prepared its Draft Work Programme as described in detail in Report Doc ACP/724/80 Rev.5 and which takes into accont the concerns of Council.
The work commitment confronting the Sub-Committee for 1981 is enourmous and the Secretariat, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intra-ACP Co-opeation continued, would need to gear itself sufficiently for the task. He concluded by urging Council to approve the proposed Work Programme and Budget for Intra-ACP Co-operation.
Following further discussions, the Council adopted the report on Intra-ACP Co-operation, subject to detailed discussion on the relevant items in the budget.
PART III: INTERNAL ACP MATTERS
Most of the issues under this section were considered unde the substantive agenda items.
V. EXAMINATION OF THE 1981 DRAFT BUDGET ESTIMATES OF THE ACP GENERAL SECRETARIAT [Doc.ACP/724/80 (Amb.) Rev.1]
(a) The 1981 Budget provides for expenditure amounting to BF 111,138,082. This expenditure will be financed as follows:
- BF 67,299,576 from ACP member-states' contributions;
- BF 42,329,564 from EDF resources; and
- BF 1,508,942 from miscellaneous revenue
(b) In examining the expenditures proposed, Council emphasized the need for Member States to pay their contributions promptly if such a budget were to be iplemented and noted that the Secretariat continued to have cash flow problems because of delays in obtaining contributions. Council requested that the Committee of Ambassadors make all efforts to place Category A2 staff under the EDF as one means of alleviating the burden of the direct contributions from Member States. Council ntoed the improvements in the budget format and the presentation of the latest (1979) audited financial statements but requested that all necessary measures should be taken so that the Financial Controller would be appointed. This post was created by the Council at its last budget session and considered indispendable to the correct implementation of the budget.
In its detailed examination of the budget Heads, Council spent considerable time in the discussing the posts that were still vacant in the existing staff organigramme of the Secretariat as certain delegations had expressed concern as to necessity of filling some of these posts. Council, after examining all the vacant posts, decided to fill certain selected posts, pending proposals by the Committee of Ambassadors on a revised staff organigramme which should be presented to the next Ministerial Council Session in April, 1981. These recommendations should also take into account a re-examination of the titles and job descriptions of all these posts.
(c) Under Head II, Council requested that the word "Telegrams" be deleted from sub head (7) and that this item be included under Office Telephones in head V for the future. The provisions under sub head (12) in the French document should be amended to BF 70,000 and BF 50,000 respectively.
(d) Under Head V, sub head (6), Council approved the provision for Rfrshments at Meetings with the provision that a new system involving a revolving fund and with tighter controls be instituted in the 1982 budget.
(e) With regard to Head IV, sub head 5 (ii) and (iii), Council noted the reservations expressed by the Nigerian delegation concerning the principles involved in making financial appropriations for the Consultative Assembly. In the light of its decision under item 6 of the Agenda relating to the Consultative Assembly, Council approved these provision.
(f) With the above reservations and observations, Council approved the 1981 Budget Estimates of the ACP General Secretariat.
VI. CONSIDERATION OF OTHER FINANCIAL MATTERS
(i) Council considered items 8 (a) and (b) concurrently [Doc.ACP.886/80 Rev.1 and Doc.ACP/883/80 (Amb.) Rev.1. With regard to the implementation of sanctions, Council decided that those States that, on 1 January 1981, were two or three years in arrears would be given a grace period of 3 months i.e. up 31/3/81 to pay up their arrears. After that date, they would be subject to the sanctions appropriate to the duration of their arrears. The sanction relating to interest on arrears of contributions would, however, be applied as from 1/1/81, for all arrears irrespective of period or amount.
(ii) Council considered the categorization of Zimbabwe and agreed that it be place din category F in the scale of contribution to the Secretariat budget. Whilst also sympathetically moting Djibouti's verbal presentation in support of its application for recategorization from Category B to Category A, Council decided that Djibouti should remain in category B.
In both cases Council took into consideration the fact that the review of the scale of contributions was commence shortly and in this regard, it requested that this exercise be conducted urgently by the Committee of Ambassadors which should make recommendations on the matter for its next session.
The Council of Ministers authorized the filling of the following vacant posts:
Heads of Division:
1 Chief of Financial, Industrial Development Division
1 Chief of Trade Cooperation Division
Experts
1 Expert in Financial and Technical Cooperation
1 Expert in Customs matters
1 Expert in Agricultural Cooperation
1 Expert in charge of the problems of the least developed, landlocked and island countries
Interpreters
1 Interpreter, English-French
1 Interpreter, French-English
1 Accountant
1 Librarian
2 Bilingual Secretaries
It should be noted that, originally, the posts in asterisks were filled, but fell vacant as a result of the resignation of the former holders.
As regards the post of Financial Controller, the establishment of which was decided in Monrovia, Council, confirming the mandate given it in Nairobi, has asked the Committee of Ambassadors to make, in the shortest possible time, an assessment of the level of the post and also study the job description of the Financial Controller and submit its recommendations too it at its next session.
New posts:
With regard to the 4 new posts recommended by the Committee of Ambassadors, namely:
1 Rapporteur
1 Bilingual Secretary
1 Registry Clerk
1 Conference Secretary
the Council decided that a further study which should include job descriptions, should be made by the Committee of Ambassadors, to be submitted to the Council at its next meeting.
Organigramme of the Secretariat:
Confirming its earlier mandate, the Council of Ministers asked the Committee of Ambassadors to speed up its work on the organigramme and have it presented to the next session of the Council of Ministers.
VII. REQUEST FOR THE ACP GENERAL SECRETARIAT TO SERVICE THE ACP REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE JOINT CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY
After a fruitful discussion, Council took good note of the comments made by certain delegations aimed at avoiding any confusion on the strictly legal level between the ACP institutions set up under the Lomé Convention and those listed in the Georgetown Agreement.
It was decided, in response to a request by the ACP Co-President of the Consultative Assembly and on the basis of Article 3 of the second chapter of the Georgetown Agreement, that the ACP Representatives for the Consultative Assembly should be serviced by the General Secretariat of the ACP Group.
Council also instructed the Committee of Ambassadors to study the practical means for implementing the said meeting.
VIII. REQUEST FOR THE ACCESSION TO THE LOME II CONVENTION AND THE GEORGETOWN AGREEMENT BY COOK ISLANDS
The report of the Committee of Ambassadors on the subject contained in Document ACP/938/80 was introduced by Ambassador Chasle of Mauritius, Chairman of the Working Group which had examined the question.
The Committee of Ambassadors recommended that the request by Cook Island, be approved for the following reasons:
(i) Cook Islands is certainly not a colony and is capable of concluding international economic agreements on its own;
(ii) Cook Islands enjoys parliamentary sovereignty and can amend its Constitution in accordance with paragraph 4 of New Zealand's Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964, No 69 and Article 41 of its Constitution without reference to New Zealand;
(iii) The Ministers of the Pacific Group of the ACP States at a Regional meeting in the Pacific had by resolution given their support to Cook islands request.
Council took note of the favourable recommendation submitted by the Committee of Ambassadors.
However, during Council discussion some delegations sought clarification and details on certain aspects of the subject.
Council therefore deferred a decision on the matter to its next meeting.
Council requested the Committee of Ambassadors to obtain any additional information which could be relevant and pertinent to the subject matter.
IX. ELECTION OF THE NEW BUREAU OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Council took note of the fact that a Representative of a State in the Caribbean Region should take the chair in the new Bureau of the Council of ACP Ministers due to take office on 1 January 1981³, and to this effect, the Right Honourable Hugh L. SHEARER, Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade was designated.
Other members of the Bureau of the Council of ACP Ministers are:
- Hon. Satcal BOOLELL, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment of Mauritius
- Hon. Minister of Gambia
- Hon. Minister of Gabon
- Hon. E.R. SEKHONYANA,
Minister of Finance of Lesotho
- Hon. Minister of Fiji
In addition, the President indicated that the Ministerial Bureau, at its 8 December meeting, had been appraised of matter relating to the current system of rotation on the basis of which the President of the Council of Ministers is chosen : the present formula was deemed to be unsatisfactory by certain delegations.
In view of the delicate nature of the problem, the Bureau had recommended holding a discussion of the issue during this session, but postponing a decision till the next Ministerial meeting.
Council accepted this and asked the Committee of Ambassadors to submit suitable proposals at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.
X. VENUE AND DATE OF THE NEXT ACP/EEC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING
Council agreed to the next meeting of the ACP/EEC Council of Ministers being held in Luxembourg on 9 and 19 April 1981, as proposed by the Community.
Council therefore took the decision to hold the ACP Ministerial Session preceding the joint meeting in Brussels on 6 and 7 April 1981.
XI. DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS' MEETING
On behalf of his government, the Minister of Finance of Lesotho, H.E. Mr E.R. SEKHONYANA, invited the ACP Group to hold its next ordinary session on the budget in Lesotho.
Council accepted this invitation and after thanking the Government of LESOTHO, decided that the said meeting should be held towards the end of November 1981.
XII. MANDATE FOR EXAMINING THE REQUEST BY THE STAFF OF ACP GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR SALARY ADJUSTMENT
Council instructed the Committee of Ambassadors to examine the request present by the ACP Secretariat's staff and to submit its recommendations at the next Council of Ministers.
XIII. THE CLOSING SESSION
Council meta gain to consider draft resolution and decisions which it had made in the course of its deliberations, and consequently the ACP Secretariat was mandated to amend the texts accordingly.
The meeting also took note of the Rapporteur's draft Report of the 26th Session of the Council of ACP Ministers held from 8th to 10th December, 1980 at the ACP House in Brussels, document ACP/951/80, and decided that the consideration of the report should be deferred until the next Session of the Council.
To this report is annexed two statements by the Heads of the Delegations of Jamaica and Zimbabwe (see Annexes V/ and VI/ respectively.