ACP-EU: Reinforcing Cooperation
The Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have sealed a new deal with the European Union (EU).
The two parties signed the agreement in Brussels, headquarters of EU-ACP group.
The event was attended virtually by the National Authorizing Officers of the European Development Funds, and the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development and his peers from member countries of the three continents concerned for the agreement.
Following the signing on April 15, 2021, the validation of the Commission of the European Union is expected by the second quarter of the year.
To this end, the chief negotiators for the EU and the ACP, the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta URPILAINEN and the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert DUSSEY, initialed the document.
The signing marks an important step towards the formal conclusion of the negotiations of the post-Cotonou agreement.
It also paves the way for political and economic prosperity and cooperation.
According to the European Commissioner, this new agreement strengthens bilateral relations between the EU and each of the ACP states.
The Togolese representative said the new convention brings the merit of the EU-ACP partnership as an international force facing the challenges and the economic realities that the world is going through.
The EU and the ACP unites over 1.5 billion people and constitute a large majority in the United Nations.
