The criteria of good governance are a part of this positive approach. The conclusion of the working groups and plenary debates was that flexibility was also essential in this process. The idea that democracy can be fixed by one programme, or deepened by one policy was considered unrealistic. Institutional and procedural arrangements are important, but on going dialogue is key. There is a need to conduct this kind of dialogue, a multilateral dialogue on how to democratize the international co-operation.
Transparency is needed on both sides.
The need to include civil society in the process was emphasized over and over. I think it should be made explicit in the text of the new convention that civil society organizations should be consulted in the programming process. The Commission is already in consultation and co-operation with civil society organizations in Europe, and I see no reason that it should not enter into dialogue with civil society organizations in the ACP states. The conference endorsed the need to have a political exchange between the EU and the ACP to define common policies and objectives. The need to improve current institutional arrangements both formal and informal and the need to mainstream the practice of democracy in the co-operation.