EU Opens Consultations with ACP on Guinea under Article 96 of Cotonou Agreement

The European Union considers that the coup d'état in Guinea on 23 December 2008 is a serious violation of the essential elements of Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement. Under Article 96 of the Agreement it embarked on a political dialogue with the ruling power which led to the opening of consultations to examine the situation and the possible solutions for a swift return to constitutional order.

At the meeting to open the consultations in Brussels on 29 April 2009 the European Union noted a number of proposals, set out by the Guinean side in a memorandum presented during the consultations, which should now be examined in detail, particularly that concerning the actual role of the CNT. The Guinean side's proposals and commitments include, in particular, the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections before the end of 2009. The EU side has received confirmation from the delegation of the Republic of Guinea of undertakings by the President, the members of the CNDD and the Prime Minister not to stand in the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. This opens up possibilities of European backup - notably in the form of electoral observers and a financial contribution - for the transition process, which will be implemented by Guinea's political players with encouragement from the African Union and ECOWAS in the International Contact Group on Guinea. The African Union and ECOWAS took part in the consultations as observers.

The European Union will accordingly keep a close watch to ensure that the road map published on 28 March 2009 is effectively implemented.

The commitments which the Guinean side has offered for fulfilling the crisis resolution plan include the following:

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