Negotiations for a new Partnership Agreement with the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

2.5.2018

Question for oral answer O-000044/2018
to the Commission
Rule 128
Linda McAvan, on behalf of the Committee on Development

On 12 December 2017, the Commission adopted a recommendation for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations on a Partnership Agreement between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. The negotiations provides the opportunity to modernise the partnership between the EU and the ACP Group of States, which should remain legally binding and value based. The proposals raise a number of questions:

– How does the Commission intend to reconcile the proposed shift towards regional compacts with the preservation of a strong ACP identity?

– What role and legal status is envisaged for the African Union and for regional organisations, such as the Regional Economic Communities, within the new partnership?

– What kind of balance is the Commission seeking between a strong focus on Africa and the continued partnership with the Caribbean and the Pacific regions?

– How does the Commission intend to make political dialogue more effective, improve monitoring of the human rights situation and make the monitoring more inclusive and participatory?

– How does the Commission intend to build a genuine multi-actor partnership that would give a reinforced role to parliaments, civil society and regional and local authorities throughout the lifecycle of the agreement, from negotiations to implementation?

– How will the Commission ensure that a widened partnership with more policy elements beyond aid does not weaken the partnerships commitments on poverty eradication and on leaving no one behind? What are the Commission’s intentions when it comes to creating a framework, which respects human rights and sustainable development principles in relation to private sector action?

– How does the Commission intend to reinforce the parliamentary dimension of the future partnership? What institutional architecture is the Commission envisaging, in addition to the overarching Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA)?

– How does the Commission intend to enhance the consultative/advisory powers of the future JPA and ensure that the Assembly is regularly consulted by the Council of Ministers?

– Will the Commission request that the Council publish the final EU negotiating directives?