The oldest and most wide-reaching agreement between European donor countries and recipient nations is officially up for review.
The Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the European Union and 79 countries, mostly former colonies, of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group of states governs some 30.5 billion euros ($33.3 billion) in aid over the 2014-2020 period of the 11th European Development Fund. It also contains pillars to encourage political cooperation and promote trade.
The new CPA will take effect in 2020, with an initial memorandum of understanding due in 2018, according to ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick Ignatius Gomes. Given the number of players and the contractual nature of the accord, negotiations are expected to take the entire period.
About the author
Bill Hinchbergerhinchberger
Bill Hinchberger is a global communications professional and educator. He studied at Berkeley and has taught at the Sorbonne. Based mostly in Paris, he spends quality time in Brazil and the United States, and works extensively in Africa and Latin America. He has served as an international correspondent for The Financial Times, Business Week, ARTnews, Variety, and others. One current focus of his work is content creation for foundations, NGOs and other organizations, especially those working on issues related to international affairs, the environment and development. He also runs training programs for professional journalists, notably in Africa, and is an associate of Rain Barrel Communications, a leading consultancy for social justice projects.
