RESOLUTION(1)

on the future of ACP-EU relations

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Strasbourg (France) from 29 March to 1 April 1999,

- having regard to the report submitted by the Working Party on the future of ACP-EU relations,

- having regard to the conclusions reached at the hearings organised by the Working Group,

A. whereas the ACP-EU partners have reaffirmed their commitment to the principles and objectives of the Lomé Conventions and, in particular, the Libreville Declaration in which the heads of state and government of the ACP countries, whilst acknowledging the contribution made by the Lomé Conventions to the social, economic, political and cultural development of the ACP countries, called for the relationship to be strengthened on the basis of a reformed, authentic and more equitable partnership,

B. having regard to the decisive role played by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly and the European Parliament in the renegotiation and consolidation of ACP-EU cooperation,

C. whereas globalisation has resulted in a widening of disparities, both within and between countries, whereas those disparities have been further aggravated by the financial crisis which struck a number of Asian and Latin American countries in 1998, and whereas the need to regulate the effects of globalisation on the developing world is greater than ever,

D. whereas the soundness of the financial markets, even if it is important for worldwide economic stability, does not constitute the international community's main objective,

E. whereas over the last ten years, following the collapse of the Communist system in the USSR and its former allies, nearly a billion people have seen the value of their income fall; and whereas the number of those living in poverty increased enormously during 1998 because of the financial crisis in countries such as Japan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil,

F. reiterating the importance of civil society's role in all areas of ACP-EU cooperation, including economic and trade cooperation,

G. whereas ACP-EU cooperation, which brings together 86 European and ACP countries, can play a decisive role in the process of globalisation,

H. having regard to Article 130v of the Treaty on European Union on coherence policies, which states that the Community shall take into account the development objectives in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries,

I. having regard to the Lomé IVa Convention and its general policy objectives in terms of poverty eradication and sustainable development in general, and rural and agricultural development and food security in particular,

J. recalling that the renegotiation of the EU-ACP partnership is a chance to renew, revitalise and strengthen that relationship,

K. whereas conflict and poverty are inter-linked and the objectives of ACP-EU cooperation have been frequently undermined by violent conflict, 13 of the 30 or so armed conflicts currently being fought being in ACP countries,

1. Maintains that, if sustainable development is to be achieved, human beings and their basic rights should be made the focal point of development policy deliberation and activities;

2. Considers that equality between men and women is an essential element of development;

3. Considers, therefore, that if the eradication of poverty is adopted as the prime objective of the next Convention, ways of redressing the imbalances afflicting the ACP countries must be found and acted upon;

4. Considers the eradication of poverty to be a moral and political imperative, failing which the growing inequalities in an increasingly interdependent world will be a source of increasing tension and will contribute to the creation of further conflict;

5. Considers that the political and economic objectives of future cooperation initiatives cannot be separated and that, in particular, security and the fight against poverty are closely linked;

6. Considers that, under the new agreement, the ACP-EU partners will have both the possibility of, and responsibility for, taking up international challenges wholeheartedly, thus confirming the past and future partnership's unique contribution to international cooperation;

7. Maintains, in particular, that the new ACP-EU Convention will provide an important opportunity for honouring the commitments and achieving the objectives adopted at international summits and notes that the OECD's Committee on Development Aid has negotiated a number of useful reference points;

8. Considers that political and policy dialogue should systematically address major social and human development questions such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive and public health, and education in relation to the objective of poverty eradication;

9. Stresses that health is a basic human right and needs to be integrated as a principle of cooperation under any new agreement and that improved health status as a part of social and human development should be an objective in all aspects of future EU/ACP cooperation;

10. Stresses that in countries where a broad societal and sectoral approach to health and education is pursued by government - in coordination with international donors - the benefits are obvious, and commends those ACP governments which have adopted such an approach;

11. Emphasises that this approach is invariably based on: sound human development policies focussed on the needs of the poorest; an adequate reflection of these policies in priorities for budget allocation; an open dialogue at all levels, from policy formulation to delivery on the ground;

12. Maintains that investment in peace, health and education is complementary, that all these issues are interconnected and that to provide people with a stake in peace and access to education and health services is an essential precursor to combatting poverty;

13. Recalls that, while GNP is still the indicator most frequently used to measure development, recent research shows that human development indicators give greater priority to the welfare of the people; hopes that particular attention will be paid to the new indicators in measuring the progress achieved;

Trade and Investment

14. Reasserts the need for the next ACP-EU agreement to include a trade cooperation aspect which will contribute to eradicating poverty, promote the economic and social development of the ACP countries and take into account their differing levels of development;

15. Calls on the Commission to make a gender analysis of the importance of proposed trade and investment policies;

16. Calls for the full participation of civil society in decision-making activities on trade and investment issues;

17. Considers that the multilateral trade system should be democratised through an effective and equitable participation of developing countries in WTO decisions and greater involvement of civil societies;

18. Calls for a ten-year transition period during which trade preferences will be revised and adapted to the new rules of the WTO;

19. Calls for the creation of the necessary conditions to allow ACP enterprises to be able to compete with EU enterprises under conditions of free trade before any consideration is given to the introduction of reciprocity;

20. Considers that ACP and EU partners should work together to make WTO rules more development-friendly and to ensure that, within the WTO framework, implementation of the Marrakesh Agreement is compatible with the European Union's commitments vis-à-vis trade with ACP countries;

21. Considers that integration of developing countries in world trade should be coupled with empowering them to participate in WTO decision-making procedures and to take advantage of dispute settlement mechanisms; calls therefore on European and ACP partners to work together on the creation of a legal aid centre independent of the WTO tailored to supporting developing countries in WTO procedures and mechanisms;

22. Calls on the European Union to take account of ACP and developing country interests in determining its future policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and other relevant issues, in accordance with the Amsterdam Treaty;

23. Calls on the negotiators of the new Lomé Convention to include provisions relating to the principles of Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) concerning the preservation of knowledge, innovation and the practices of indigenous and local communities and their intellectual property and cultural property rights, including approval, involvement and the equitable sharing of benefits of any use of such resources;

24. Calls on the negotiators of the Lomé Convention to include provisions which guarantee national sovereignty with regard to genetic resources by banning biopiracy, patents on living organisms (TRIPS), and the development of sterile varieties by genetic manipulation ("terminator technology");

25. Stresses that, with reference to non-LDC countries, the future trade agreement should maintain preferential access for a significant proportion of ACP countries' exports;

26. With regard to the review of the product protocols, calls for the precise and unique circumstances of each industry to be taken into account and that the protocols be tailored, on a case by case basis, to the requirements of each industry, and provide for the roll-over of the sugar, banana and beef/veal protocols, to ensure the survival of these industries. With respect to rum, calls for the creation of a new protocol which ensures the abolition of all quotas in 2000, and continued duty-free access, as well as a new compensation mechanism designed to offset sudden EU market liberalisation in 2003;

27. Considers that the stabilisation of revenue from basic products continues to be a major challenge for the ACP countries and that the STABEX must therefore be maintained, although arrangements must be made to ensure more expeditious payments and benefit producers in the affected sectors;

28. Firmly believes that the development of the private sector, in particular of small and medium-sized enterprises, can give a vital impulse to sustainable economic and social development; calls on the ACP-EU negotiators to considerably strengthen the role of the private sector in the future Convention by creating the right political and economic conditions for its rapid growth;

29. Welcomes the fact that the role of the private sector in the development process is now fully acknowledged and that, therefore, the inclusion of the private sector is a major challenge for the new Convention;

30. Welcomes the fact that the ACP countries have devised an integrated strategic approach to the renegotiation of the Convention which goes beyond a mere revision of the instruments; also welcomes the comprehensive EU mandate conferred by the EU Council on the Commission, which followed the wide-ranging process of consulting civil society launched by the Commission Green Paper;

31. Calls for an investment protection mechanism which will encourage foreign investment while providing for Environmental Impact Assessments and promoting acceptable social standards;

32. Stresses the importance of local investment, particularly in the SME and micro enterprise;

Political framework for conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction

33. Stresses that transparent local and national political systems enable people to deal with tensions and to resolve their differences in peace, in an environment in which law and order prevail and in which rules are observed and applied; considers, therefore, that the existence of democratic government, press freedom and an impartial police force and legal system and the condemnation of corruption are decisive factors in conflict prevention; calls on the negotiators of the next Convention to define the conditions which will provide greater support for the reform of legal systems, for the training of police officers and soldiers, for human rights and for the rule of law;

34. Maintains that conflict impedes development in the ACP countries and that it is responsible for extreme poverty in a number of regions;

35. Is aware that stability and peace require long-term investment and that this requires lengthy and often low-key political efforts;

36. Considers that the time has come for resolute, though determined action in order to prevent or resolve conflicts and considers that the necessary humanitarian aid must not be used as a substitute for action;

37. Maintains that the pursuit of development strategies which effectively combat poverty and insecurity is the most effective way of preventing tensions and conflicts;

38. Considers that conflict prevention should not be an "added extra" but should underlie all aspects of development and trade policy and therefore be an integral part of the next ACP-EU agreement;

39. Maintains that economic pressures, further aggravated by the process of globalisation, can be a factor in the development of conflicts, that the increasing polarisation between wealth and poverty encourages such conflicts, and that solidarity - an essential aspect of the EU-ACP partnership - must therefore be protected and strengthened;

40. Stresses that, particularly in Africa, environmental degradation, over-population and the resulting struggle for water, land and resources are essential factors in the emergence of tensions and conflicts and considers, therefore, that access by the people to resources should be an integral part of environmental protection strategies;

41. Points out that cultural, ethnic or religious tensions are greatly inflamed if people no longer have access to resources on an equitable basis and that investment in basic social needs (particularly health and education) consequently helps to reduce the risks of instability and violence;

42. Reiterates the importance of obtaining access to justice for all members of society;

43. Considers that the stability of a society depends to a large extent upon the way in which civil society is organised and supported and the ability people have to express themselves, and therefore calls for greater support to be given to the various representative bodies of civil society;

44. Stresses, in particular, that promoting the strict equality of men's and women's rights is a sound investment in terms of peace and security and notes that, even more than in other areas, women have essential roles to play in defusing tensions since they look for ways of achieving peace and security in order to protect their family and to be able to bring up their children;

45. Welcomes the fact that macro-economic reforms are now better adapted to the realities and the potential of the various countries but stresses that the social implications thereof are still only partially taken into account; considers that structural adjustment plans must be more transparent and that the International Monetary Fund must take into account the political side of the problem for any decisions adopted. At the same time, applauds the new orientations of the World Bank (IBRD) in its dealings with developing countries;

46. Stresses that debt relief is an essential condition for development for ACP governments and fully agrees with increasing demands from ACP and EU leaders as well as civil society to the effect that debt strategies must be incorporated into effective development strategies, including conflict prevention;

47. Points out that "post conflict" societies have special needs and that the rapid establishment of social services and effective demobilisation and reintegration of soldiers should be given special priority;

48. Considers that smooth and gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy on the basis of equitable rules and with due regard to their level of development will contribute to economic and political stability;

49. Regrets the increased tendency of some African States towards unilateral armed intervention in the internal conflicts of other sovereign African States;

50. Deplores the fact that, in recent times, military expenditure has increased in a number of developing countries to the detriment of funding for education and health care, and therefore considers that the ACP-EU partners should agree on maximum ceilings for military expenditure and minimum thresholds for expenditure on education and health care;

51. Welcomes the fact that the European Union has agreed upon a Code of Conduct for arms sales and calls for the implementation and strengthening of that Code to be discussed by the negotiators;

52. Stresses that the presence of millions of small arms circulating in many ACP countries actually impedes development and that assistance should be given to efforts to collect in such weapons;

53. Calls for a bold new approach focussing on human beings and the future to be adopted by the negotiators;

54. Calls for greater support for regional and subregional conflict-prevention and peace-restoration mechanisms;

Health and education in social and human development

55. Considers that there needs to be a strengthening of the key provisions relating to basic services including education, health, water and housing;

56. Calls for a Social and Human Development Chapter in the new EU/ACP agreement for future relations, with specific sub-chapters on health and reproductive health;

57. Stresses that interventions aimed at improved health and targeted towards the poorest will require additional and inter-sectoral efforts alongside and including the health sector;

58. In this regard calls for capacity building in social and human development areas as an additional area of focus for the new EU/ACP agreement;

59. Calls on the EU and ACP countries to guarantee budgetary allocations to primary health and education as envisaged under the UN Copenhagen Conference 20/20 initiative which proposes that at least 20 % of government spending and donor support should be allocated to these areas and that EU and ACP government spending should be additional to, not instead of;

60. Stresses that levels and rates of spending are insufficient in assessing the "performance" of individual ACP countries and that actual development impact, in terms of improved health and educational standards, should determine assessments of performance in addition to levels of funds spent;

61. Calls for the inclusion of human development indicators - in addition to macro-economic indicators such as GDP - as indicators of poverty;

62. Stresses that development programmes and projects in ACP countries should be systematically assessed through "health impact assessments" for their impact on the health and the well-being of populations affected or involved in, for example, the construction of dams and roads;

63. Reiterates that ownership of interventions in relation to poverty alleviation is crucial and that this requires early involvement from civil society in the formulation of policies and programmes;

64. Stresses that the increased efforts for an integrated approach on social and human development issues needs to be complemented by an increased capacity and expertise for policy formulation and dialogue at the level of the European Commission and EU Delegations;

65. Reiterates that the EU has an important role to play with regard to increased policy coherence and coordination on poverty-focused social and human development interventions amongst EU Member States and with other international donors;

66. Calls for an increased focus on medical and other interventions to combat infections such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis;

67. Stresses that the prevention of HIV/AIDS remains a very important challenge beyond the year 2000 calls on politicians in ACP countries to address HIV/AIDS through visible, broad, inclusive national strategies which have been the key to stemming the spread of the disease in Senegal and Uganda;

68. Calls for the Commission, together with its international partners and EU member states, to strengthen efforts to develop and ensure accessibility of an AIDS vaccine and a vaginal microbicidal product as additional preventive methods;

69. Commends those EU and ACP governments which have contributed to acquiring and sharing knowledge relating to HIV/AIDS interventions, which has enabled sound HIV/AIDS practices and policies to be identified;

70. Calls for investment in the acquisition and sharing of knowledge to be a priority area for health cooperation in future EU/ACP relations, knowledge being a public good which can greatly benefit the poorest countries;

71. Calls for the urgent inclusion of ACP Ministers for Social and Human Development Sectors in the current negotiations and in all policy dialogue on poverty-focused interventions in ACP countries;

72. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council and the Commission.

(1) Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly on 1 April 1999 in Strasbourg (France).