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Commission proposes consultations with Côte d'Ivoire on human rights, democracy and rule of law

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Due to the deteriorating human rights situation in Cote d'Ivoire, delays in implementing the Marcoussis agreement as it applies to preparations for elections and obstacles put in the way of an EU-financed audit in the cocoa sector, the European Commission has decided to propose opening consultations with Ivory Coast. The aim of the consultations is to re-establish the full respect of the principles of human rights, democracy and rule of law. Implementation of development cooperation will be reassessed in the light of the outcome of the consultations. The procedure is being opened in accordance with Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement governing relations between the EU and the 77 countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group. The final decision on the opening of such consultations is to be taken by the Council of Ministers.

In the view of the European Commission, there are three areas of particular concern:

• Human rights were seriously violated in Abidjan at the end of March and more recently in Korhogo in the northern part of the country, which has been out of government control since the start of the crisis on 19 September 2002. There are UN reports on the discovery of several mass graves containing more than a hundred bodies in all.
• Democratic principles, in particular the holding of elections in 2005 in satisfactory conditions, are being jeopardised by the huge delays in adopting the principal legislation concerning the independent electoral commission, nationality and eligibility to become president of the republic as provided for in the Marcoussis peace agreement of 24 January 2003. The holding of credible, open and transparent presidential elections in October 2005 and parliamentary elections in December 2005 is essential if fresh crises like the present one are to be avoided. The current crisis originated in the disputed elections of autumn 2000.
• The rule of law is compromised by the obstacles the Ivorian government has put in the path of the EU-financed audit of the cocoa sector and there appears to be no effective legal remedy to the repeated refusals of several professional bodies in the coffee/cocoa sector to cooperate with the audit. This sector is especially important for the Côte d'Ivoire, the world's leading producer of cocoa, as it accounts for half of the country's exports.
• The aim of the consultations is to open a formal dialogue on these problems within the framework of the ACP-EC partnership, hear the explanations of the Ivorian authorities and find out how they intend to remedy the situation.

By contributing to the resumption of dialogue provided for the Accra III agreement of 30 July, the consultations will help to re-establish adherence to the three essential elements laid down in Article 96 of Cotonou. The conditions for carrying out cooperation will be reassessed by the EU in the light of the results of the consultations.

The Commission's proposal for a decision will be sent as soon as possible to the Council.

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• EU Presidency Declaration on Côte d'Ivoire situation  (19/5/2005)
• EU Presidency declaration on the situation in the Ivory Coast (7/4/2004)
• EU Humanitarian aid for emergency rehabilitation programme in Ivory Coast (19/3/2004)
• Commissioner Nielson meets Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire (26/2/2004)