In Brussels, Belgium, the 79 countries that make up the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States have embarked on a strategic review aimed at “repositioning” the group within the global arena and readying itself for negotiations on its future relationship with the EU.
Details regarding the timing of negotiations remain unclear, but a group of “eminent persons” has been tasked with steering the issue through a series of internal consultations. Devex has learned that an ACP position paper is in the works.
The next five years will be crucial for the future of the European Union’s development cooperation with ACP countries with the the Cotonou agreement — which sets out the details of the EU-ACP partnership — due to expire in 2020.