African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States  (ACP Group)						Groupe des Etats d'Afrique des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (Groupe ACP)
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			SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 31ST MEETING OF THE  COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS  (Brussels, on 16 - 18 May, 1983) Ref: ACP/26/095/83 en/ac Brussels, 18th May 1983

OPENING CEREMONY

• The 31st Session of the ACP Council of Ministers was officially opened by the President of the Council, the Honourable Mosese Qionibaravi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism for Fiji.
• The President warmly welcomed all delegates to the Council's 31st Session and on behalf of Fiji an all the Pacific region offered his sincere thanks to the countries of the ACP for the honour and privilege bestowed on him as President. [Text of speech in annex 1].
• He highlighted the unprecedented programme of work which had been set for Ministers including the ACP Council Session itself, the Meeting for Ministers on Sugar, the Joint ACP-EEC Council Meeting and Special Sessions on Article 108 and Stabex.
• The President indicated that a major proportion of the work of the Council would be directed towards the ACP's relationship with the EEC and include both a detailed analysis of the full and effective implementation of the Lomé II Convention and the difficulties which had been experienced in this area to date.

• With regard to the effective implementation of the Lomé II Convention, the President directed the Council's attention to the important Session on Stabex which he believed would determine the EEC's commitment to cooperation. He also noted that if there was to be an effective ACP-EEC relationship then there would need to be more favourable consideration given to the removal of obstacles to ACP exports to EEC markets.
• The President also emphasized that under the current Convention the disbursement of resources available had been extremely slow and that many of the provisions which were indicated to benefit the ACP had not been implemented. He also referred to the fact that for seven years now the Council had sought assistance from the EEC to sell some of their surplus agricultural products at prices a little below the normal world market price to help meet very urgent food needs of some member countries. As the EEC response has continued to be negative, it is difficult to understand their real meaning of partnership.
• On the preparation for negotiations for the future relationship the President commented that despite mandates by the Council, the preparations by the Secretariat and the Committee of Ambassadors had not been completed in time. This was even more critical because the EEC had already made a number of pronouncements on issues and initiatives that they wished to see in any future cooperation arrangements with the ACP. The President pointed out to the Council that if the ACP was to enter the negotiations with an effective and well-developed position then it was necessary for members to pay their contributions and strengthen the Secretariat as well as give clear and precise instructions to their Ambassadors.
• Finally, he pointed to the fact that the forthcoming negotiations with the EEC could not be divorced from the wider international UNCTAD VI deliberations. These should be taken fully into account when considering the ACP position in its relationship with the EEC.

ITEM I:

• Adoption of the agenda

ITEM 2:

• Communication from the President

matters relating to the ACP and to ACP-EEC Cooperation. He then made reference to the Special Joint Session of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers on Stabex to be held on 19th May, 1983 at the Borschette Centre and to the 8th Session of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers which would open later that day at the same venue.

ITEM 3::

• Designation of a Rapporteur

ITEM 4:

• Adoption of the Rapporteur's Report on the proceedings of the 30th Session of the Council of ACP Ministers [Doc. ACP/2151/82 Rev.1]

• In response to an expression of disappointment by the Council at the delay in receipt of the report, the Secretary General stated that it had been forwarded in good time, after completion in February, to the various Member States' Missions in Brussels. Ambassador Jackman, in response to a comment that his statement did not cover the highlights, stated that as the preliminary draft record had in fact been available at the 31st Session of the Council, such a section was not considered necessary.

• Consideration of the Report of Activities of the Committee of ACP Ambassadors to the 31st Session of the Council of Ministers [Doc. ACP/26/116/83 Rev.2]

• However, in his introductory remarks he highlighted a number of important areas.
• With regard to Trade Cooperation it was disquieting to note that deterioration of the ACP-EEC terms of trade. While work continues to concentrate on ways of overcoming the difficulties encountered by the deteriorating trade balance between

• The Chairman noted that the long standing question of supply of available Community agricultural products to the ACP at reasonable prices had not been resolved. And while there was severe food supply shortages experienced in some ACP Member States there was abundance in Europe. There was a need for political intervention on this subject.
• He reported that an ACP Consultant was working on the possible effects of the enlargement of the EEC to include Spain and Portugal. With these two countries likely to accede to the EEC on 1st January, 1985, it was important for the ACP to be well-advised of the likely consequences. And there is a need for the Committee of Ambassadors to be mandated to ensure that the ACP interest is safeguarded.
• The implementation of the provisions of Stabex and Sysmin continues to be hampered by problems of interpretation of the Lomé II Convention. This is a matter of major concern to the ACP Group. Council should insist on developing an appropriate machinery for joint consultation on occur.
• Consultations with the EEC will go on in an attempt to overcome this situation.
• On Industrial Cooperation, there was very little to report except to say that a theme on agro and light industries possibilities has been adopted.
• On Agricultural Cooperation, the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors stated that there was little that he could specifically highlight except that the Director of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation has been appointed. He further added that a consultant appointed by FAO was working on a document to be used as a basis for discussions in the forthcoming negotiations on ACP-EEC Cooperation in Agriculture.
• On Financial and Technical Cooperation the Chairman stated that the Subcommittee had been studying the Community's proposals.
• The progress on the work of the Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Countries was hampered by the lack of effective emphasis it received in the major provisions of the Convention.
• Although the Council decided to continue discussions on the system of Rotation of the Presidency of the ACP Council of Ministers, the Chairman noted that the Committee of Ambassadors was not required to deliberate upon the issue between the two session of Council.
• Main issues relating to the working of Intra-ACP Cooperation was highlighted by the Chairman. In conclusion the Chairman stressed that the Chairmen of the various Subcommittees would brief the Council in greater depth if required.
• The Council took note of the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors' presentation of the report and after some clarification, agreed that the Chairman of each of the Subcommittees should, if appropriate, present a statement of its activities and that this could be followed by an exchange of views by the Council.
• Trade Cooperation

• He noted that there were two important aspects to this very disturbing trend. Namely, the lack of competitivity for many of the ACP's product vis-à-vis other third world countries and the limited number of products produced by the ACP which can be exported. The Chairman commented however, that if the ACP was to be able to present forceful arguments to the EEC in an effort to overcome these difficulties then individual ACP States must be urged to provide the necessary data.
• He also expressed concern over the unilateral measures taken by the EEC Member States against a number of ACP agricultural products entering the Community. In this regard he mentioned treatment of products such as wheat offals and bran, strawberries and coffee in which the Community and its Member States had taken unilateral actions against the spirit and latter of the Convention.
• He stressed that the EEC's response to the ACP States' demands for certain changes to certain aspects of the Community's GSP for 1983 had been late even though applications and proposals were made early by the Group. The ACP Group products and expand such preference to other areas despite the Community's GSP commitment to other countries.

• In conclusion the Subcommittee Chairman said that assistance provided by the Community in the area of trade promotion had focussed mainly on trade fairs and exhibitions and had not led to any real improvement in actual trade figures. A new approach in Trade promotion was needed in the next Convention.
• During the Council's discussions on Trade Cooperation the specific problems of a number of commodities were raised, including day-old chicks, poultry meat, strawberries and melons.
• With regard to the exports of poultry meat by Mauritius to the Community, it was pointed out that the Member State concerned was still not ready for the agreed trilateral consultation and that trade on day-old chicks restricted on quarantine grounds constituted a quota system.
• The exports of strawberries from the ACP into the Community during the off-season are disadvantaged against other countries because of delaying tactics employed by the Community's bureaucracy in deciding promptly on ACP applications. As a result strawberry off season production for one whole season has been lost.
• In the ensuing debate, Council became very concerned about the treatment of ACP products in the Community market. It became clear that the Commission had a complex, bureaucratic administrative machinery which usually insisted on the provision by ACP States of detailed data which were usually provided promptly. However, once information was received the Community appeared to "drag its feet", delayed its decisions only to inform the ACP Group whenever it was challenged, that it was still studying the matter and that it was not yet in a position to decide.
• Instances were quoted on the existence of non-tariff barriers such as consumption taxes levied by Member States on important commodities such as coffee. It was contended that such coffee levies for instance were equivalent to custom duties. As such the concept of free access into the Community's market is not valuable. And further it reduces the competitivity of the final product in the market.
• It was also felt that any reference to the International Coffee Organization to justify any of such coffee levies evaded the issue.
• Trade problems relating to the sale of timber, delays in decisions on restoring lost sugar quotas were also highlighted. All of these issues disturbed the ACP Group which was interested in the rapid solution of these problems.

• On the basis of the above discussions, Council agreed as follows:
• The ACP States should urgently supply to the Committee of Ambassadors and the ACP General Secretariat all the pertinent information relevant for the analysis and identification of all the factors responsible for the deterioration of ACP trade with the Community. To this end, Council instructed the Committee of Ambassadors and the Working Party to complete its analysis of this matter as soon as possible and to make appropriate recommendations to Council in due course;
• The Community should cease from adopting measures which have the consequent effect of restraining ACP exports. Council specifically requested the Community to:
• reconsider its decision regarding the variable component of the levy applicable to the ACP exports of wheat offals and bran by restoring the variable levy that applied prior to 1 August 1982;
• urgently accede to the demands of the ACP for duty free treatment for their exports of strawberries to the Community during the off season period so that the ACP States concerned can make use of these provisions during the forthcoming off season period;
• call on the Member States and the Commission to urgently arrive at a satisfactory solution on ACP poultry meat to the Community.
• The Community should give the political directives necessary to its relevant body so that the Working Party and the Committee of Ambassadors can propose to Council a mechanism that would make it possible for the ACP States to purchase agricultural products available in the Community on concessionary terms that took into account payments in local currencies and on credit terms;

• The Community should ensure that the consultation procedures relating to its Generalized Scheme of Preferences are fully adhered to in order to enable the ACP States to safeguard their interests;
• The Community should ensure that the commitment made under Article 181 of the Lomé Convention and the Joint Declaration in the Protocol to the second ACP-EEC Lomé Convention on Greece's accession is adhered to during the negotiation for the entry of Spain and Portugal to the Community.
• In view of the above it was firmly suggested firstly that the Community should be asked at the Joint Council of Ministers Meeting this week to make early decisions on the above outstanding issues. And secondly, the European Community should know that the ACP cannot cooperate in a Convention which can be interpreted only and at the same time contravened by one Party.
• Customs Cooperation

• Protocol on Commodities - SUGAR

• STABEX AND SYSMIN

• She said that the sole aim of the special session of Stabex was to resolve the immediate current problems of Stabex which covers firstly the outstanding balances due in the 1980 and 1981 years of transfers and secondly the crucial question of insufficiency of resources.
• The Chairman alerted the Council that there exists the real problem not in the implementation of the Stabex scheme as well as in the interpretation of its provisions.
• Council noted the report in anticipation for the Joint Session on Stabex in the next two days.
• In the ensuing debate it became clear that the Council share concerns relating to the shortage of funds and was unanimous that the ACP Group should insist on its rights under the scheme and take up the issues legally with the European Community.

• On Sysmin Council noted that although the aim and intention of Sysmin is similar to Stabex, the scheme contains a great deal of problems on its implementation; disbursement was slow. That although loans were provided at specially low rate of interest, 10 years moratum over a 40 years period it has taken for instance 2 years to get approval for Zambia's application.
• There was the need to streamline the implementation and increase the amount allocated.
• Industrial Cooperation

• Agricultural Cooperation

• Financial and Technical Cooperation

• Council was further informed that a separate report would be presented on the Application of Article 108 of the Convention by the ACP Co-Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Article 108 of the Convention, within the context of the activities of the authorized representatives of the said Committee.
• Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Countries

• Institutional Matters

• Intra-ACP Cooperation

• With regard to improving the provisions of ACP Trade Information various proposals were still being considered, one of which was to establish a computer link at the ACP Secretariat linked to European information bases.
• Council noted the progress which had been made by the Committee of Ambassadors in other areas covered in their report.
• Internal Matters

• He noted that a number of other requests made by the Council at the 30th Session had also been met by the Committee of Ambassadors. Audits of the 1976-81 accounts had been completed but because they had not yet incorporated comments by the Committee of Ambassadors, they were unable to be presented to the Council for consideration.
• With regard to the audit of the 1982 accounts the Chairman noted that efforts were currently being made to utilize the services of auditors provided by the Government of Nigeria.
• It was indicated that the Secretary General's report on financial management for 1981 had not yet been properly considered by the Committee of Ambassadors and as yet they had not received his report.
• The Chairman of the Subcommittee indicated that work was still being undertaken on the revision of the conditions of service of the ACP General Secretariat Staff. He noted that the issues involved were extremely complex and had been under consideration for some time. However, the Chairman undertook to present recommendations on action to be taken at the next session of the Council.
• With regard to the staffing position of the Secretariat he drew the Council's attention to the current recruitment campaign for a number of vacant posts within the Secretariat and urged Council members to nominate appropriate personnel to ensure that these posts could be filled expeditiously.
• In consideration of the Chairman's report a number of delegations requested details on certain aspects of the budget. In particular, further information was sought on the current level of arrears, the breakdown of individual country obligations, and the actions taken by the Secretariat to recover these.
• The Secretariat, in response, circulated an additional document tabulating the level of arrears by year and by member State for the consideration of the Council.
• In the debate which followed the introducing remarks by the Chairman of the Finance and Establishment Subcommittee, the Council expressed deep concern in the lack of control of the administration of the finances of the ACP Group. The Council noted that substantial arrears contribution have built up, the audit report of the "books" of the Secretariat have been neglected and not examined by the Council since 1976; there was no regular reporting on the management ane

• Council also took note of the serious situation in the deteriorating conditions of service of the ACP Secretariat Staff.
• The continuation of such a situation was already affecting the morale and the overall performance of the staff and could be a crucial factor when the ACP Group is about to enter into the negotiations for the Third ACP-EEC Convention.
• While there was a genuine concern over the improvement in the Staff's conditions of service, Council was however cautioned against taking a hasty decision on this issue.
• Having taken the above factors into consideration, the Council mandated the Committee of Ambassadors to treat the matter of the conditions of service for the Staff of the ACP Secretariat with the requisite urgency to the extent of securing necessary direction from the capitals of Member States of the ACP Group in order to have this issue fully resolved at the Budget session of the Council at the end of year.

An interim report on the preparations for the negotiations for a successor arrangement for the Convention of Lomé II

• In introducing this item to the Council the President referred to the mandate given by Council to the Committee of Ambassadors and the Secretariat firstly at the 29th Session in Libreville, Gabon which was reconfirmed at the 30th Session in Brussels in December 1982, to produce a report on the ACP preparations for the negotiations for a successor arrangement to Lomé II.
• The President indicated his concern that the mandate appeared not to have been fully carried out and that it would have been unfortunate for Ministers to leave Brussels without discussing this most important subject. However, Council noted, and this was due to personal intervention of the President, that the document in the form of a preliminary draft had just been distributed.
• In the ensuing debate on the subject, several delegations expressed their concern at the lack of preparedness by the ACP Group on such an important matter; but they were thankful that a preliminary document, although late, had been issued.
• Delegations indicated that the Lomé I and II were both found wanting; that there was a basic need to review their achievements; critically look at the cause of failure and be aware of the selective approach carried out by the Community for instance in preferring that ACP plays the role of being supplier of raw materials rather than be engaged in the process of industrialisation.

• Ministers felt the need to define the philosophy and objectives underlying the association of ACP States with the EEC, the justification of the confirmation of such a relationship. The Ministers realized that negotiations will be conducted against a backdrop of recession, inflation, unemployment, a reduction in the quality of life of workers and small farmers in ACP countries. Such economic difficulties felt also in the Community, undermined life in the ACP States, but Europe will be pointing these out as economic problems in the way of assisting the ACP's development. The ACP should therefore be fully prepared to articulate its needs with relevant facts and figures and use these to argue strongly against the European Community in the negotiations.
• The ACP should further clearly show to the European Community that there is interdependence and not dependence in the mutual relations between Europe and ACP countries. Ministers emphasized the importance of making Europe understand that the spirit which inspires the Convention should be cultivated and that Europe should accept that the objectives of the ACP is development.

- the periods of Lomé I and II were too short, therefore ACP should choose a longer period, although some delegations saw difficulty in this;

- there was a need for ACP-EEC joint management, close consultation and joint interpretation of the provisions of the Convention;

- creation of self-sustaining development projects to strengthen national and regional programmes;

- linkage between programmes and amount of resources made available;

- the need to concentrate on a few general themes rather than cover a wide range, the quantification of needs, importance of self-reliance, the need to promote food, agricultural rural development, trade development,

the elimination of safeguard clause, completely free access for all goods, industrialization, ACP-EEC development bank, review of institutions, guaranteed price for export, consideration of Sysmin.

• Many delegations emphasized the need for underlining solidarity of the ACP Group, for focusing on major issues and for the setting up of a Ministerial negotiating team to give directive to negotiators and technicians.
• There was a need for experienced negotiators and the organization of a well-coordinated strategy that safeguards the interests and self respect of ACP States.
• The delegations also stressed the need for the Committee of Ambassadors and the Secretariat to revise the document under discussion and forward it to ACP Governments for their reaction and comments.
• In summing up the President pointed out that:

- that the memorandum should be revised by the Committee of Ambassadors by the 30th June, 1983 and be despatched to capitals of ACP Member States for discussion and country inputs, and that this be returned to Brussels by the 15th August to be finalized;

- the Committee of Ambassadors should recommend a negotiating structure and an operation plan for negotiation, and the choice of those who are to be involved as negotiators.

ITEM 7(a):

• Preparation of the Special Session on Stabex [Doc. ACP/66/023/83 Rev.1]

ITEM 7(b):

• Ministerial Meeting on Article 108 [Doc. ACP/81/014/83]

• The report emphasized the difficulties experienced in implementing the various aspects of financial and technical cooperation between the ACP and the Community. It was clear that the procedures required under the Lomé II Convention were cumbersome resulting in a number of delays.
• A number of delegations considered that the possibilities for a decentralisation of the decision-making process should be investigated in an effort to streamline the procedures and ensure a more effective utilization of the limited resources.
• The Council also considered the possibility of introducing into the instruments for developing financial and technical cooperation procedures for covering the operation and maintenance of projects financed by the Community. Under the present arrangements difficulties in ensuring that these commitments are met by the EEC have often resulted in the unsuccessful development and completion of such projects.
• Reference was made to the activities of the EIB and attention was drawn to the reluctance of the Bank to finance industrial projects. In particular, little progress had been made in developing projects initiated by the CID for ACP countries.

• The Council endorsed the report as presented by the ACP 108 Ministerial Committee and together with the additional points raised supported strongly the stand to be taken by the Special Session.

• Review of the Draft Agenda for the 8th Session of the ACP-EEC Ministers

The draft agenda for this session was agreed upon by the Council.

ITEM 9:

• Report of the meeting of ACP Sugar Ministers

ITEM 10:

• The treatment of ACP Students and Nationals in EEC Member States

The Rapporteur of the two Reports on Cultural Cooperation between the ACP States and the European Economic Community, H. E. Mr Raymond CHASLE (Mauritius), informed the Council of ACP Ministers that at the 14th Meeting of the Joint Committee of Ambassadors held on 1 February 1983, the Community spokesman reiterated the view that the Community had no competence under the Rome Treaty in handling the problem of the situation of ACP students and other nationals residing in the EEC Member States nor the Community had any competence to deal with those matters under the Lomé II Convention.

• Ambassador Chasle said that on that occasion, the Community acknowledged the concerns of the ACP States and the importance it attached to the question but could not allow this matter to be discussed. Consequently, the Community suggested that the problem could only be dealt with on a bilateral basis, between the ACP States and the EEC Member States concerned.
• Furthermore, the Community had not responded positively to the request made by the Chairman of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors for the establishment of a Joint Working Group of Experts to study the matter.
• In view of the Community's stance, which was likely to be reiterated at the forthcoming Joint Council, it was proposed that the Council, it was proposed that the Council of ACP Ministers should propose ways and means for the ACP and

• The Council took note of the Rapporteur's statement.

• ACP-EEC Cultural Cooperation

In his comprehensive introduction, H. E. Mr Raymond Chasle, Ambassador of Mauritius, Rapporteur of the two Reports on ACP-EEC Cultural Cooperation, informed the Council that pursuant to the mandate of its 30th Session, the Committee of Ambassadors had set up an ACP Working Group to study the aforementioned reports and make appropriate proposals thereon. As regards the composition of the ACP Working Group, the membership was enlarged to include two additional members from each ACP regional group.

• The Council was reminded that its 29th Session which was held in Libreville, Gabon, urged that the cultural dimension be taken into account when defining a new type of relations with the Community.

• Furthermore, the Council was reminded that the Joint Committee of the ACP-EEC Consultative Assembly had adopted in Kingston, Jamaica, a resolution on the forthcoming ACP-EEC negotiations which urged the ACP and the EEC to examine jointly the recommendations adopted by the Consultative Assembly in Luxembourg and in Rome on Cultural Cooperation. Council also noted that with satisfaction that the ACP Council of Ministers had approved both reports on Cultural Cooperation, expressed concern about the delay on the part of the ACP-EEC Council on pronouncing itself on this question.
• The Rapporteur drew the attention of the Council to the fact that the Joint Committee of the Consultative Assembly mandated the Joint Working Group to draw up a Third Report on Cultural Cooperation which should contain provisions for a special chapter on cultural cooperation and the integration of the cultural dimension in all the chapters of the Convention with a view to assisting the negotiators of the successor Agreement.

• In the UNDP's programme of assistance to the ACP Group for the negotiations for a Third ACP-EEC Convention, a study on Development and Socio-Cultural Cooperation was identified and an UNESCO Expert was suggested to assist the Rapporteur and the Secretariat in this task.
• The Rapporteur pointed out that ACP-EEC Cultural Cooperation would be treated by the Joint Council for the first time at its next meeting but observed that the Community had refused to deal with the question as a "B" Item i.e., one for discussion and decision and had agreed that cultural cooperation be treated as a "C" Item which would allow an open and free debate.
• The main objective should be to sensitize the Community to take account of the socio-cultural dimension and prepare the Community for fundamental changes in the negotiations which should focus on self-reliance, to secure the establishment of the Joint Working Group of high level experts as recommended by the Consultative Assembly and the more dynamic use of the instruments of the existing Convention in line with the aspirations of the ACP States. It was felt

• The Council took note of the Rapporteur's statement.

• Perpetration of Aggression and Destabilizing Acts by the Racist South African regime in Southern Africa

The Council was advised of the latest position regarding the aggressive acts which continue to be undertaken by the South African regime against the Front Line States which are members of the ACP. Those Member States effected by these acts of aggression acknowledged the strong support given by the Council to them and urged the Council to maintain this position.

• The second fact-finding Mission of the ACP Group which visited the Front Line States in April 1983 has reported an increasing level of acts of aggression and destabilization being mounted by the South African regime. Apart from the immediate effects of such acts with the loss of innocent lives and the destruction or property. These acts of aggression also led to the continued dependance and economic reliance of these countries upon South Africa.
• The Council expressed its concern over the continuation of the strong economic links between the EEC and South Africa and resolved to call upon the Joint Council of Ministers to adopt an appropriate resolution in order to draw attention of the international community to the situation in Southern Africa.

• Exchange of views on the North-South dialogue - ACP Group and UNCTAD VI

On the subject of ACP coordination at international conferences, Council noted the preparations which were being made by the Committee of Ambassadors with regard to the forthcoming UNCTAD VI Conference which was scheduled to be held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia from 6 to 30 June, 1983.

In view of the importance to the ACP Group of the UNCTAD VI Conference, and the many subjects of interest to the ACP due to be discussed at that Conference, Council urged the ACP States to adopt a coordinated approach on the major issues affecting the ACP Group and also mandated the Committee of Ambassadors to consult with the Community both before and during the UNCTAD VI meeting so as to ensure that the Community safeguard the interests of the ACP Group as provided for under the Lomé Convention.

• To this effect, Council adopted Resolution N° 11 (XXXXI) 83 urging the ACP States to take a firm stand at the UNCTAD VI Conference and requesting the EEC and its Member States to support the ACP and to reaffirm tha the

ITEM 14:

• Review of the system of rotation of the Presidency of the Council of ACP Ministers

• During the final discussions it was proposed as interim measure that the sitting arrangements at ACP meetings be in a alphabetical order for all the ACP countries, in modification of the present system which allows for the Caribbean and Pacific States to sit in their respective geographical groups.
• In the end, Council decided that some more time should be allowed for consultations and agreed that the item should be proposed to its next meeting.

• Election of the Successor Ministerial Bureau

The following nominations were presented to Council for the composition of its next Ministerial Bureau:

Pacific - Papua New Guinea

West Africa - Cape Verde

East Africa - Somalia

Central Africa - Burundi

Southern Africa -

Caribbean - Grenada

• The mandate of the new Ministerial Bureau will take effect on 1st August, 1983 and its President will be from Southern Africa.

• Date and venue for the next meeting of the Council of ACP Ministers

ITEM 17:

• Any other business

Council noted the view expressed that the arrangements for the signing of the Successor Convention to Lomé II should be finalized well in advance in view of the importance of this ceremony and the need to fully prepare for it. Council agreed that the matter will be included in the Agenda of the next ACP Council meeting.

ITEM 18:

• Examination and adoption of the draft resolutions and decisions of the 31st Session of the Council of ACP Ministers

Council, after examining and amending the draft decisions and resolutions of the 31st Ministerial Session, adopted them and asked the Committee of Ambassadors to polish the texts of these decisions and resolutions.

• Tribute to the President

ANNEX I

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ACP COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO THE

31ST SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS [HELD AT ACP HOUSE, ON 16TH MAY, 1983]

Honourable Ministers,

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is for me a great honour and a special privilege to have this opportunity to serve you as President of the Council of ACP Ministers and in so doing, to welcome each and every delegation here to ACP House for the 31st Session of the Council of ACP Ministers;

On behalf of my country, Fiji, my region, the Pacific, I extend our most sincere thanks to the countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States for this honour and privilege.

All of us have journeyed long distances to be here today to participate in what are important-indeed vital-discussions for our States. I hope with all sincerity that our journeys will be well rewarded.

We have this week an unprecedented programme of work involving no less than seven ministerial meetings. We have already held three of them. Yesterday the meetings of the Ministerial Bureau of the ACP Council and of the ACP Ministerial Members of the Article 108 Committee took place. This morning the ACP Ministers dealing with sugar held their meeting.

Today we commence the 31st Session of our Council of ACP Ministers to be followed by the ACP-EEC Ministerial Meetings - on Article 108 on Wednesday, the special session on Stabex on Thursday and the 8th Session of the Joint Council of Ministers on Thursday and Friday.

We therefore have a very heavy programme including a number of issues of major importance to the well-being of our countries.

For this programme our Ambassadors and our Secretariat have prepared a number of documents which I hope you would be able to consider in depth. For these, and for the many efforts made to inform me of all the issues involved, since my arrival here last Thursday we must thank our Ambassadors and our Secretariat.

There are a number of important matters related to our own ACP affairs on which we must deliberate and arrive at wise decisions in our own interest.

Our programme shows that the bulk of our work on this occasion relates to our relations with the European Economic Community. And on this domain from our agendas we have two kinds of issues. The first concerns the full and effective implementation of the Lomé II Convention, the life of which we must not forget continues up to 28th February 1985. I do not propose to go into the details of the various issues involved for they are well documented in the papers and reports before you. But it is evident that there is a lot to be done under this Convention, and its effective implementation provides the best justification for any future relationship. In this regard, the results of the Special Session on Stabex would be an important barometer of our partners' commitment to our cooperation. No less so would be the achievement of the Convention in improving the deteriorating ACP trade performance in the Community markets. It is clear that all obstacles to ACP exports to the EEC markets must be removed and that the most favourable consideration must be extended to the request by ACP States for effective participation in trade arrangements such as the Sugar Protocol.

Equally the Convention must - and it can - accelerate the disbursements of resources not only from the fourth but also from the fifth EDF. Much, indeed too much, seems to lie in need of urgent attention. I find it very difficult to accept any excuse for the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation not having been established and made operational. This state of affairs, in such a critical area of our development effort, should serve to remind us of the vital responsibility we also share in ensuring the fullest implementation of this Convention.

Colleagues, I must admit that I do not always understand what partnership means to our EEC partners. In our countries millions of our people are dying for want of food, despite the valiant efforts of our governments. On the other hand, our partners, fortunately for them, normally have massive supplies of available agricultural products. For seven years now, this Council has been trying to have our partners agree to sell-not to give away - to us some of these supplies at prices a bit below the normal world market price and more in keeping with our means. Their response continues to be negative. No reason, in our view, can ever justify a partner or a brother denying bread (or manioc, for that matter) to his partner or brother in such need. Something must be wrong with our Cooperation !

The Second kind of issues germane to our cooperation with the EEC relates to preparations for our future relations with the Community for which we were due to commence negotiations by September this year.

I do not need to respect how important this question is to all of us. In Librevill in May last year and again here in Brussels last December, Council made this quite clear. And as a result of this, Council did mandate the Secretariat and the Committee of Ambassadors to prepare and have sent to our Capitals, one month before this meeting, a basic comprehensive memorandum with proposals on this subject. Indeed, when I agreed to the postponing of this meeting from early May to now, it was in the hope of providing extra time for this to be done. I am sure that all delegations here share my deep concern and regrets that this has not proven possible especially given the limited time left to prepare for negotiations.

Colleagues,

there is a time for brothers (and sisters too) to speak frankly if together they are to achieve that to which they aspire. We need to fact the fact that we must find ways and means of improving the efficiency of our institutions if we are not to lose by default, as it were, our objectives for the future negotiations.

We must pay our contributions, we must strengthen our Secretariat, we must improve the conditions of service of our staff, we must give our Ambassadors clear and precise instructions which they in turn must implement.

The prime purpose of our ACP organization is the development and welfare of our peoples. But we cannot even begin to deliver that objective if our own institution if found wanting. Charity must start at home !

As Ministers we are accountable to our peoples and we cannot afford failure. I know my own little country, my peoples and my government have braced themselves for the major effort which this negotiation will require of them and I am sure that every country represented here, small or large, continental or Island, Landlocked or coastal, Least developed or developing, share a similar determination.

And just as well we all do, for at a time of very difficult economic conditions for all countries, we must be aware that we are entering into what are sure to be very difficult negotiations with the largest trading bloc in the World, backed by a bureaucratic machinery which we can never hope to emulate. This is all the more reason why we must, in the course of this week, formulate clear guidelines of our position for our Ambassadors and our Secretariat to develop so that we could arrive at an agreed position in time for the opening of the negotiations which are little more than three months away.

Colleagues,

if we are not already aware of the hour, we need only to listen to the number of pronouncements and take note of the many other initiatives by the EEC. Already their many proposals regarding the nature and duration of the future Convention, the issue of policy dialogue and the concept of regionalisation are widely known and are the subject of frequent public discussions. As all of these ideas hold important implications for us, the ACP, we would do well to look in-depth not only at our approach, but at what is likely to be placed before us on the negotiating table.

The forthcoming negotiations with our EEC partners can hardly be divorced from the wider international UNCTAD VI deliberations which would proceed them in Belgrade in June.

Given our numerical importance in the Group 77-fully one half and the EEC's in the developed world, the positions to which we are party at that forum are not without significance for our ACP-EEC negotiations. We therefore need to take them fully into account.

Colleagues,

against this background it is clear that our task this week is by no means easy. I, and my Bureau are ready to do your bidding. Let us know what your wishes are and we would do our best to see that they are carried out. It is however a mammoth task in which we cannot succeed without your fullest support and cooperation. It is equally, a grand opportunity which we cannot afford to squander.

Thus, as we approach our task I fervently appeal for the fullest support and cooperation of all delegations to this the 31st Session of the ACP Council of Ministers which I now have the pleasure to declare open.

Thank you.

ANNEX II

ACP/25/001/83 Rev.6 Brussels, 14th May 1983
 

AGENDA FOR THE 31ST SESSION OF THE

COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS TO BE HELD IN BRUSSELS, AT ACP HOUSE, ON 16TH, 17TH

AND IN THE AFTERNOON OF 18TH MAY 1983
 

1. Adoption of the agenda

2. Communication from the President

3. Designation of a Rapporteur

4. Adoption of the Rapporteur's Report on the Proceedings of the 30th Session of the Council of ACP Ministers[Doc. ACP/2515/82 Rev.1]

5. Consideration of the Report of Activities of the Committee of ACP Ambassadors to the 31st Session of the Council of Ministers

6. An interim report on the preparations for the negotiations for a successor arrangement for the Convention of Lomé II[Doc. ACP/26/119/83 Rev.2]

7. Preparation for:

a) Special Session of the ACP-EEC Council on Stabex[Doc. ACP/66/023/83 Rev.1]

b) Ministerial Meeting on Article 108[Doc. ACP/81/014/83]

8. Review of the draft agenda for the 8th Session of the Council of ACP-EEC Ministers[Doc. ACP/22/002/83 Rev.3]

9. Report of the Meeting of ACP Sugar Ministers.

10. The treatment of ACP students and nationals in EEC Member States[Doc. ACP/87/045/83 (intra-ACP)]

11. ACP-EEC Cultural Cooperation[Doc. ACP/87/045/83 (intra-ACP)]

12. Perpetration of aggression and destabilizing acts by the racist South African regime in Southern Africa[Doc. ACP/25/003/83]

13. Exchange of views on the North-South dialogue - ACP Group and UNCTAD VI[Doc. ACP/60/012/83 Rev.3]

14. Review of the system of rotation of the Presidency of the Council of ACP Ministers.

15. Election of the successor Ministerial Bureau[Doc. ACP/549/79 Rev.5]

16. Date and venue for the next meeting of the Council of ACP Ministers

17. Any other business

18. Examination and adoption f the draft resolutions and decisions of the 31st Session of the Council of ACP Ministers.

ANNEX III

ACP/63/032/83 (Min.sugar) Brussels, 17 May 1983
 

STATEMENT TO COUNCIL BY THE ACP MINISTERIAL SPOKESMAN ON SUGAR:

THE DECISIONS TAKEN AT THE MINISTERIAL MEETING

ON 16 MAY 1983
 

Mr President,

Honourable Ministers and Delegates,

It is my honour to report to you on the outcome of the deliberations held yesterday by the Ministers responsible for sugar matters.

These deliberations centred on a number of outstanding issues, some of which have been on the agenda of our own ACP as well as ACP-EEC institutions for a very long time.

Before going into details, Mr President, I would like to express my appreciation to the Chairman of the Subcommittee and his colleagues for the excellent manne in which they discharged the mandates entrusted to them last December by the Ministers.

In anticipation of the impending negotiations with the Community on the guaranteed price for sugar for the 1983/84 delivery period, the Ministers instructed the Subcommittee to prepare a negotiating brief. The brief would among other things include the points contained in last November's memorandum to the Commission. This was a memorandum on relevant economic factors. The Subcommittee was also requested to consider the preparation of a fully argued briefing document in addition to the usual ACP statement. Such a document would commend itself since it would again be necessary to negotiate on the basis of the ACP's understanding of the provisions of the Protocol. In this regard it was agreed that the cost of freight (which has an impact on the net income from ACP sugar exports to the Community) should be stressed as an economic factor to be taken into account in determining the ACP guaranteed price.

In order to ensure that the ACP negotiators have at their disposal pertinent facts in respect of freight costs, the Secretariat was instructed to compile and keep up-to-date all relevant data on the ocean transport costs affecting sugar exports.

Pursuant to instructions from the Ministers, the Subcommittee presented for consideration a formula for the permanent reallocation of sugar export shortfalls covered by Article 7(4) of the Protocol. It was proposed that such reallocations be based on a "fifty-fifty" principle, that it to say, fifty percent (50%) of any available quantity is to be permanently reallocation pro-rata to the agreed quantities in Article 3(1), and fifty percent (50%) is to be divided on a basis of equal shares.

Obviously no single formula would be entirely satisfactory to every signatory State, but members agreed that the "fifty-fifty" principle was a reasonable and equitable compromise which took account of the concerns expressed by large and small suppliers at previous Ministerial meetings. At the same time it has the virtue of being simple and easy to apply.

After full discussion Ministers adopted the formula and agreed to review its operation after a period of one year.

The Subcommittee advised the Ministers that only on 12 May the EEC submitted a proposal for a Joint Declaration on the conclusions of re-examination of the conditions for implementing the guarantees under the Protocol. It was therefore not possible to give adequate consideration to the document. Given the importance the ACP States, which are signatory to the Protocol, attach to this exercise, it was decided that discussions at the meeting be limited to a preliminary exchange of views and that the document be sent to our respective capitals for more detailed consideration. It was further agreed that the Subcommittee would finalize the document with the EEC on the basis of comments and amendments proposed by the Ministers. The Ministers also authorized the Subcommittee on Sugar that the EEC had proposed for 17th May. The meeting informed the Subcommittee that it should indicate to the EEC that any agreements arrived at would be ad referendum.

Council will recall the Ivory Coast's application to the EEC since 1981 for accession to the Protocol with a quota commensurate with its export capabilities. In the light of the great lapse of time since this request, the Ministers decided to recommend that if there was no favourable response at or before the Joint Council meeting on the 20th, the ACP through its

President should make a declaration deploring the Community's procrastination and urging an early decision to enable the Ivory Coast to accede to the Protocol.

Furthermore, the Ministers endorsed the action taken by the Subcommittee in despatching to the Co-Chairman of the ACP-EEC Subcommittee on Sugar a letter dated 16 May 1983, in support of Zimbabwe's request for a revision of its basic quota. (Copies of the letter have been circulated). Zimbabwe's request follows that country's reservation on the size of the allocation at the time it was granted. Zimbabwe's case is founded on the fact that its accession to the Convention and the Protocol had been delayed by unfortunate circumstances. The Subcommittee was instructed to press Zimbabwe's case vigorously.

Finally, the Ministers drew attention to the fact that the impending enlargement of the Community had implications for the Protocol. They agreed that it would be necessary, for example, to ensure that existing ACP sugar exports to Portugal should not only be brought within the framework of the Protocol but should be treated as additional to the 1.3 million tonnes now guaranteed entry into the EEC. The consequently mandated the Subcommittee to study the implications in so far as they might affect the Protocols, notwithstanding the fact that the ACP has commissioned a study on the wider issues.

Mr President, this concludes my report. I thank you.