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Bots wana will from May 3 to May 7 host two meetings that will impact on European Union cooperation with the countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, significantly that relative to trade.

Both will centre on issues raised by the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou, Benin, on June 23, 2000 (Cotonou) and of which the trade provisions are being amended to take more account of the economic imbalances between the 79 ACP countries.

On May 3 to 5, the 79th session of the ACP Council of Ministers will convene; and on May 6 and 7, they will join their counterparts in the EU in the 29th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers.

Delegates from 104 countries are expected, with, it is known so far, 29 represented at ministerial level.

The importance of Cotonou to Africa was summed up Friday by Botswana trade minister Jacob Nkate, who told a meeting of several of the ACP members: "None of us can underestimate the value of our partnership with the EU."

The delegates, from member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), were planning their strategy for negotiating an 'Economic Partnership Agreement' (EPA) to replace the trade provisions of Cotonou.

Nkate said that Cotonou had been seen by many of the ACP states as one sided: "It is favourable to the strong at the cost of the weak. Our desire is for a more equitable arrangement," he said.

The major economic and trade objective of Cotonou is to promote the smooth and gradual integration of the economies of the ACP countries into the world economy. During the current five year period (to 2007), 13.5 billion Euros has beenmade available as development aid.

Thomas Fiege, first secretary at the EU delegation in Botswana says since Cotonou was signed, several imbalances have been identified, which could not be resolved under such an all-embracing agreement. It has now been decided to conclude EPAs, not with each country, but with groups of the ACP members, by the end of 2007.

"Country by country would probably not be successful, to obtain most benefits there have to be larger market areas, economies of scale. There have to be regional initiatives, the success of the EPAs is linked to the success of the regional groupings."

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is critical of Cotonou, saying it sidesteps many WTO rules. On the basis that it was designed to bring the developing world into the mainstream word economy, the WTO accepted it, but is asking when it will comply.

In Africa there is continuing concern that if Cotonou has to fully comply with WTO rules, the ACP countries will not be able to keep up. - Sapa

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