28th Session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers

Τhe 28th Session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers was successfully completed in Brussels on Friday 16 May. At a press conference following the two-day meeting, Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Giannitsis underlined the importance which the EU attaches to its partnership with the ACP countries, noting that the Presidency had made every possible effort so that the discussion at the Council would be substantial and yield results.

The Council meeting focused on issues arising from the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement which entered into full force on 1 April this year and provides for EU financial assistance totaling 13.5 billion euros from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF). Among other issues discussed were the follow-up to the Monterrey and Johannesburg international conferences, the EU initiative on the creation of a fund for managing the water resources of ACP countries, as well as the course of negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which began in September last year. Giannitsis stressed the need to complete negotiations by the end of 2007, given that the EPAs constitute the developmental (and not only) tool which will facilitate the integration of the ACP countries in the global economy.

Lastly, the Council adopted three important texts on the fight against drought and desertification, the preparations of the World Summit on the Information Society and cooperation with ACP countries in the areas of research and sustainable development.

For the first time, Cuba participated as an observer in the bodies of the Cotonou Agreement, while the accession of East Timor to the agreement was approved.

| Arriba |

• EU-ACP: Working together on the Road to Cancun  (1/8/2003)