Cotonou Agreement

Cotonou Agreement
Name	Cotonou Agreement
Long name	Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part
Signed	June 23, 2000
Location	Cotonou, Benin
Effective	March 1, 2003
Expiration	February 29, 2020
Signatories	European Union, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

Contents

Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States that aims to promote sustainable development, poverty reduction, and human rights in ACP countries. The agreement was signed in Cotonou, Benin on June 23, 2000, and entered into force on March 1, 2003, replacing the Lomé Convention. The Cotonou Agreement is a key component of the European Union's development policy, which is guided by the principles of United Nations' Millennium Development Goals and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. The agreement involves European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the European Union.

Introduction

The Cotonou Agreement is a comprehensive partnership agreement that brings together the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States to promote economic development, social justice, and human rights in ACP countries. The agreement is based on the principles of partnership, ownership, and participation, and aims to promote regional integration and cooperation between the European Union and ACP countries. The agreement involves World Trade Organization, International Labour Organization, and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The Cotonou Agreement also promotes good governance, democracy, and human rights, and provides a framework for dialogue and cooperation on global issues such as climate change, migration, and security, in collaboration with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Monetary Fund.

The Cotonou Agreement was signed on June 23, 2000, in Cotonou, Benin, and entered into force on March 1, 2003, replacing the Lomé Convention. The agreement was negotiated between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, and involved European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the European Union. The Cotonou Agreement was signed by Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and was witnessed by Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa, and Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal. The agreement has been revised and updated several times, including in 2005 and 2010, to reflect changing global circumstances and development priorities, in consultation with World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and European Investment Bank.

The Cotonou Agreement provides a framework for cooperation and partnership between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in a range of areas, including trade, investment, development, and human rights. The agreement promotes regional integration and cooperation between ACP countries, and provides support for regional organizations such as the African Union, Caribbean Community, and Pacific Islands Forum. The agreement also provides a framework for dialogue and cooperation on global issues such as climate change, migration, and security, in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme, International Organization for Migration, and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The Cotonou Agreement involves Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and United Nations Children's Fund.

The Cotonou Agreement was signed by the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, which includes 79 countries from Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific regions. The agreement was signed by European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the European Union, and was witnessed by United Nations, African Development Bank, and Caribbean Development Bank. The signatories to the agreement include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, and Cameroon, among others, as well as Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, and Gabon. The agreement involves Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, and Haiti.

The implementation of the Cotonou Agreement is overseen by the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the European Union, in collaboration with ACP countries and regional organizations. The agreement provides a framework for cooperation and partnership between the European Union and ACP countries, and involves United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization. The agreement also provides support for regional integration and cooperation between ACP countries, and promotes good governance, democracy, and human rights, in partnership with International Labour Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and World Trade Organization.

The Cotonou Agreement has had a significant impact on the development of ACP countries, promoting economic growth, poverty reduction, and human rights. The agreement has also promoted regional integration and cooperation between ACP countries, and has provided a framework for dialogue and cooperation on global issues such as climate change, migration, and security, in collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and World Food Programme. The agreement involves European Court of Auditors, European External Action Service, and European Investment Bank. The Cotonou Agreement has been praised for its innovative approach to development cooperation, which emphasizes partnership, ownership, and participation, and has been recognized as a model for South-South cooperation by BRICS, G20, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Category:International agreements