Post-Cotonou: Negotiators reach a political deal on a new EU/Africa-Caribbean-Pacific Partnership Agreement

Yesterday, the chief negotiators from the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), reached a political deal on the text for a new Partnership Agreement that will succeed the Cotonou Agreement. The Agreement, which will have to be approved, signed and ratified by the parties, will cover a large number of areas, ranging from sustainable development and growth, to human rights and peace and security and will be geared to empower each region. Once in effect, the Agreement will serve as the new legal framework and guide political, economic and cooperation relations between the EU and 79 members of the OACPS for the next twenty years. With the new Agreement, EU and OACPS member countries will be better equipped to address the emerging needs and global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, ocean governance, migration, peace and security issues. Commissioner for International Partnerships and EU chief negotiator, Jutta Urpilainen, said: “Today’s deal marks a step towards a new era for the EU, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. People in all those four regions of the world will benefit from this ambitious Agreement that will allow us to better deal with the new realities and challenges as global actors.” The text will go through internal procedures. The signature of the agreement will occur at a later stage in 2021. A press release and a Q&A are all available online. More information can be found in the dedicated website on the ACP-EU partnership.