On the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Partnership Agreement between the European Union… and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part

Signed in 2000 for a period of 20 years, the Cotonou Agreement, which governs relations between the EU and the then African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States, was supposed to expire in February 2020. While negotiations for a successor Agreement ended in December 2020, the signature of the Agreement only took place in Samoa on 15 November 2023 due to repeated delays.

The Samoa Agreement provisionally entered into force in January 2024, which is very much welcome as the new agreement provides for a strengthened, modernised and more ambitious framework for cooperation that goes beyond traditional development cooperation. The Agreement builds on the important acquis and sets a flexible framework built around a common Foundation applicable to all parties and tailor made regional protocols for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific respectively. Furthermore, the new partnership builds on several international agreements and identifies the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change as overarching guiding frameworks.

The Samoa Agreement is based on six joint priorities: human rights, democracy and governance; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and migration and mobility. The new Partnership Agreement offers enhanced space for dialogue and the Rapporteur welcomes the provisions on global alliances and international cooperation, with both parties stressing their commitment to the rules-based international order and to promoting international dialogue and seeking multilateral solutions to drive global action forward.

The Rapporteur stresses the importance of ensuring development effectiveness and results and welcomes the Agreement acknowledging that means of cooperation should be diversified, encompassing a range of policies and instruments, from all available sources and actors. However, the implementation of the Agreement needs to be supported by a meaningful budget under the NDICI-Global Europe Instrument and efforts should be made to maintain the level of support towards the ACP partners in the coming years.

Strong links also need to be established between the Samoa Agreement and the Global Gateway initiative, which was launched in December 2021. Given the magnitude of the needs and the level of investment required to meet the Agenda 2030, the Rapporteur believes that it is crucial to mobilise other forms of development finance, which need to be aligned with development policy objectives.

The Rapporteur insists on the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in the strengthening of the political dialogue between the EU and the OACPS. Democratic accountability needs to be ensured at all levels of the Agreement and there is an important role to the played by the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the three new Regional Assemblies in this regard.

The Samoa Agreement recognises that engagement with stakeholders, notably local authorities, civil society, and private sector representatives, is integral to well-informed decision-making and to furthering the objectives of this Partnership. The Rapporteur calls therefore for the rapid setting up of an open and transparent mechanism for structured cooperation in order to ensure the effective participation of stakeholders during the implementation phase of the Agreement.

In accordance with Article 218(6) TFEU, the consent of the European Parliament is required in order for the Council to adopt a decision on the conclusion of the Agreement.

In the light of the above, the Rapporteur recommends the Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, until the adoption thereof in committee:

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

07.03.2024

for the Committee on Development

on the proposal for a Council decision on the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part

(COM(2023)0791 – C90029/2024 – 2023/0464(NLE))

Rapporteur for opinion: Samira Rafaela

On 15 November 2023, the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States signed the Samoa Agreement, which established the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. It will replace the Cotonou Agreement, which was signed in 2000 for a 20-year period, and hence had to be extended. The Samoa Agreement includes six priority areas: democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility. From the INTA perspective, the Rapporteur highlights the following points:

First, the Agreement should benefit intra-African trade and the economic integration of the African continent through the AfCFTA. Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are useful instruments and should help reach this goal.

Second, it is welcomed that the Agreement includes a pathway to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, as well as the UN principle on free, prior, and informed consent. The Agreement should foster sustainable development in both regions, where the EU trade toolbox, including EPAs, GSP and Aid for Trade, but also CBAM and the Anti-Deforestation Regulation, should be mutually reinforcing.

Third, EPAs between the EU and African countries should contribute to long-term sustainable development, reduce poverty, and boost regional integration. These EPAs should benefit the African population and intra-African trade.

Fourth, the Agreement’s trade and investment provisions should benefit all parties. The EU should therefore be mindful about a potential misbalance of benefits of trade and investment relations with the OACPS countries, especially related to sustainability.

Fifth, the EU should engage in capacity building where necessary, and support activities related to science, technology, research, innovation and the digital transformation in the OACPS countries. The EU should also engage with OACPS countries about new and existing EU trade legislation, including CBAM and the Forced Labour Ban.

Sixth, it is welcomed that the Agreement includes strong human rights commitments. The Agreement should help with the fight against inequalities, and its implementation should be gender mainstreamed, which includes, among others, gender equality and trade related aspects and gender chapters in trade agreements.

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The Committee on International Trade calls on the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible, to recommend that Parliament gives its consent to the draft Council decision on the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part.

The rapporteur has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, until the adoption thereof in committee:

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Mr Tomas Tobé

Chair

Committee on Development

Subject: Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), of the other part (COM(2023)0791 – C90029/2024 – 2023/0464(NLE))

Dear Chair,

Under the procedure referred to above, at its meeting of 22 February 2024, the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter and in particular to call on the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible, to recommend the approval of the proposal for a Council Decision.

I would be most grateful if you would incorporate the attached AFET opinion appropriately into your recommendation.

Yours sincerely,

David McAllister

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible, to recommend the approval of the proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part.