Press release

146b088e

6 December 2001.
 
 

           ACP Council of Ministers. Preparation for the ACP-EU trade negotiations : decision on geographical configuration should be deferred.

The ACP Council of Ministers (Brussels 6-7 December 2001) noted the state of preparations for the negotiation of new ACP-EC trading arrangements.  It affirmed that  the decision on ACP configuration remains the prerogative of the ACP and this decision will be deferred, where necessary, until studies are carried out and analysis of the results undertaken and considered in regional and ACP-wide consultations.

The Concil noted with satisfaction that the funds of Euro 20 millions allocated by the European Commission, earmarked for facilitating the implementation of the preparatory activities are now available. 

Owing to procedural difficulties, the resources from the Euro 20 million facility for the trade policy compatibility and Economic partnership agreement (EPA) impact assessment studies were released only in mid-November 2001, causing considerable delay in their implementation of the studies.

The Council noted with concern that the Programme Management Unit (PMU) designed, according to the rules of the EDF, to oversee management of the 20 million Euros financing facility, may not be fully operational before the first quarter of 2002. This would only give the ACP a maximum period of nine months to implement capacity building programmes before the start of the negotiations in September 2002. During the negotiations of the Cotonou Agreement, it was agreed that the EC simplify its procedures for the disbursement of funds. 

contact :     Hegel Goutier         tel : +32 2 743 06 04       fax + 32 2 743 06 58         http://www.acp.int