UN General Assembly
1976

39. The Community welcomes the entry into force in April of the Convention concluded between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group [ACP] and the European Economic Community [EEC] in Lome on 28 February 1975. The importance of this Convention-which relies upon a certain number of new ideas is without precedent in relations between developing and developed countries. It concerns more than half a billion human beings. Its objective is to establish and develop, in a spirit of friendship, economic relations between the Community of nine members and more than 50 developing countries. Furthermore, the importance of the Lomé Convention rests upon the fact that all its members are placed within an "equal partnership" on a basis of complete equality between the partners. This implies a mutual responsibility. The Community, for its part, will most seriously and constructively consider the wishes of the ACP countries voiced at the first meeting of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers at which I had the honor to represent the Community.