A4-0274/97

Resolution on the Commission's Green Paper on relations between the European Union and the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st century - challenges and options for a new partnership (COM(96)0570 - C4-0639/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission Green Paper (COM(96)0570 - C4-0639/96),

- having regard to Articles 130u to 130y of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and Cooperation and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Committee on Women's Rights and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A4-0274/97),

A. recalling its support for the Lomé Convention and stressing that the spirit and policies of Lomé are crucial elements of the European Union's political identity and that the various Lomé Conventions are the most advanced instrument of international North-South cooperation and as such represent a common heritage that must be safeguarded,

B. whereas economic globalization is reflected both in the emergence of developing countries and by an increase in disparities and poverty, as well as increased risks of marginalization of countries and peoples, particularly in the developing countries but also in the developed countries,

C. whereas human beings are increasingly interdependent, reflected both in the emergence of values common to the whole of humanity and in reactions of withdrawal and rejection by those who feel excluded,

D. whereas women in the ACP countries are still suffering from extreme discrimination because they lack legal rights, equal access to education, vocational training and job opportunities; whereas they are often excluded from decision-making processes; whereas the necessary facilities for the protection of reproductive health do not exist;

E. whereas this is not the work of an invisible hand and whereas beyond the market there are women, men and human values, and whereas the globalization of the capital and goods markets must be complemented by economic, environmental, political and social regulation,

F. whereas development cooperation policies, particularly the Lomé Agreements, are essential elements of such regulation and whereas the aim of the European Union should be to ensure that the least developed countries are able to benefit from the globalization of the capital and goods markets, and whereas it is therefore regrettable that sub-Saharan countries are only minor trading partners of Europe,

G. whereas the only effective means of combating the causes of unemployment and social exclusion is to create productive jobs in the formal and informal sectors,

H. whereas, in order to achieve the best possible results from combined European aid, the European Union must succeed in gearing individual Member States' development aid in an appropriate manner and ensuring consistent coordination between aid policy and other policy areas,

I. whereas better conditions for the effectiveness of development cooperation policies and for combating poverty have existed since the disappearance of the perverse effects caused by the support for corrupt regimes and dictatorships in the context of the Cold War but whereas the situation in some ACP countries is still deplorable,

J. deploring the reduced commitment of Europe towards the South, which is inversely proportional to its increasing commitment towards eastern Europe and the Mediterranean,

K. pointing out the recent positive developments observed in Africa and particularly the progress in democracy and the rule of law, the improvement in economic performance, the new aspirations and behaviour of the emerging generations and of women, who rightly wish to play an increasingly important role in the political, social and economic development of their countries; noting that this is encouraging, too, since it means that resources formerly in the service of the police and armed forces and now released can be put to use to improve health and medical care and education and to effect social reforms,

L. stressing that the European Union has both an interest and a duty to give firm support to democratic, social and economic developments in those ACP countries where they have occurred,

M. whereas the EU must pursue an ambitious, firm policy vis-à-vis the ACP countries and, in particular, sub-Saharan Africa and must offer to any of its partners willing to accept it a fresh agreement, not only in order to safeguard and build on the achievements of 25 years of a North-South cooperation programme, which, if not exemplary, is at least unique in its sphere, but also in order to increase its effectiveness and scope; whereas the objectives of that agreement should be sustainable and humane development, the fight against poverty, the integration of the ACP countries into the world economy, and the deepening and strengthening of political relations between the EU and the ACP countries; whereas this new form of cooperation will call for relations between the EU and the ACP countries tailored to the characteristics of regions, sub-regions and countries, i.e. a structure which differs from that of the previous agreements and conventions; whereas the renewal of the fourth Lomé Convention offers the parties an opportunity to re-lay the foundations of a partnership of mutual interest, in the light of the new system of international relations, retaining and emphasizing the basic principle of partnership which has made the Lomé process unique,

N. having noted, pending the summit of the Heads of State of the ACP countries, the will expressed by representatives of those countries to maintain the geographical context of the ACP group,

O. whereas several OCTs (overseas countries and territories) and extremely remote Community regions are actually part of African, Caribbean and Pacific regional units, and whereas cooperation between ACP partners, OCTs and extremely remote EU regions should therefore be stimulated,

P. whereas, in a globalized world, a global approach to the European Union's development policy is required,

Q. whereas the commitments made by governments in the UN Conferences on the Right of the Child (1990), the Environment and Development (1992), Human Rights (1993), Population and Development (1994), Social Development (1995), Women (1995), Habitat (1996), and Food (1996) as well as the people's African Charter for Population Participation and Development (1990), all contribute to sustainable development and stress the interrelationship between all these factors; whereas the future agreement needs therefore to be based on these commitments,

1. Confirms its support, under the Vth Lomé Convention (2000-2010), for the renewal and strengthening of ACP-EU cooperation;

2. Expresses support for a fifth convention consisting essentially of a global agreement laying down on a single base valid for all ACP countries the political, economic, financial, commercial and social objectives and principles of ACP-EU cooperation, with a single set of institutions to promote democratic values, respect for human rights, parliamentary and political dialogue and containing a range of cooperation instruments varying in accordance with the level of development of the countries making up the ACP group, without calling into question their identity or political history;

3. Takes the view that the new convention should consist of several levels in addition to the national level:

- the first level, bringing together all partners who share the same objectives of sustainable social development, peace, democracy and respect for human rights, have given the same international undertakings and comply with the same cooperation rules;

- the second level, promoting regional cooperation and enabling the following issues in particular to be dealt with: security, restrictions on the arms trade, the banning of landmines, and the prevention and resolution of disputes;

- the third, sub-regional, level relating to Africa and encouraging regional integration and enabling monetary and trade issues in particular to be considered (franc zone);

4. Emphasizes the importance of democratic structures, respect for human rights, legal safety and efficient administration;

5. Considers that the composition of the ACP group can only be expanded or changed by mutual agreement with the ACP countries and that the coherence of this group must be maintained;

6. Emphasizes that, given its geographical proximity and its historical responsibility, the European Union has a particular obligation to honour where Africa is concerned;

7. Urges that this new approach to ACP-EU relations should not prompt the EU to scale down the efforts it has made to assist its partners in the South, efforts which it has maintained during the negotiations on the 8th EDF;

8. Considers that the principles sui generis of the Lomé Convention, contractuality, predictability, security, partnership, which are even more relevant than in 1975, must be maintained in the next convention;

9. Points out furthermore that both the OECD and the G8 consider partnership to be the indisputable element of any development cooperation policy;

As regards partnership

10. Confirms its support for the strengthening of partnership, the key element in the future of ACP-EU cooperation, in particular through

- the maintenance of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly which constitutes an essential element in the North-South dialogue,

- primacy of the political dimension with the inclusion of crisis and risk prevention, migration and questions dealt with in the international conferences within the remit of ACP-EU cooperation;

- the consequent transformation of the ACP-EU institutions, in particular to include the regional aspect, consideration also being given to the position of the OCTs;

- the use of contracts in place of the unmanageable cumulation of multiple conditionalities provided the countries concerned respect the principles of democracy and human rights;

- giving priority to promotion of the rule of law and the proper utilization of resources,

- effectiveness of implementation;

- diversification of operators, both in decision making and implementation;

- the systematic involvement of operators (national and local administrations, private firms, social operators), both in decision- making and implementation;

- re-balancing of the partnership in favour of the ACP countries so as to give them as much control as possible over their development;

11. Considers that the political debate and partnership between the European Union and the ACP countries is of strategic importance for both parties, not least as a way of tackling together the challenges of globalization, at political as well as economic and commercial level;

12. Notes the Council conclusions of 2 June 1997 in regard to conflict prevention, and encourages it to develop its actions to that end, taking full account of the significant role played by women in preventing and resolving conflicts;

13. Urges the Commission to establish a conflict prevention facility in all national and regional indicative programmes which would ensure that funds can be rapidly released in post-conflict situations to provide assistance as part of peace programmes in ACP countries;

14. Calls on the Commission to undertake conflict impact assessments in regions of instability to identify how the full range of EU development, trade and foreign policies can contribute to reducing the risk of violent conflict and protect vulnerable groups;

15. Hopes that the provisions concerning the security of the African continent will include

- a ban on the use of landmines;

- supervision of and restrictions on arms sales;

- the limiting of military budgets to 1% of GNP, failing which cooperation will be scaled back;

- regional arrangements to assess outbreaks of tension and prepare mediation efforts;

- the provision to the ACP countries of information by satellite that may help to prevent crises;

16. Takes the view that in the countries affected mine disposal is a prerequisite for any kind of development measure;

17. Calls for the drawing-up and implementation of a code of conduct for the EU and the ACP countries, designed to prevent trade in arms with and the supply of arms to countries in regions where there are potential or ongoing conflicts;

18. Supports the Commission's proposal for differentiating cooperation according to needs and merits, provided that the attitude of the EU is based solely on common values and objectives and excludes any discrimination; calls for that differentiation to take a form which does not undermine the overall cohesion of the ACP group or existing regional solidarities;

19. Considers that the effective inclusion of organizations of civil society (associations for the defence of human rights, young people, women, the rural population, NGOs, trade unions, economic and social partners, churches, religious and philosophical organizations, etc.), the private sector, universities and teaching and training establishments, decentralized and local communities, must be a prerequisite of Lomé V;

20. Considers that fundamental human rights must be guaranteed in order to allow the democratic participation of citizens in decision-making and to formulate alternative proposals for sustainable development;

21. Hopes, in particular, that cooperation will develop between local authorities in ACP countries and countries of the European Union, since such decentralized cooperation will cover measures and projects which concern citizens' daily lives, strengthen the decentralization process at local level in the ACP countries and make the public in European local authority areas more aware of the problems facing the developing countries;

22. Considers that ACP-EU institutions should be strengthened by involving non-governmental actors who should be encouraged to take part in the framing, implementation and assessment of ACP-EU development programmes and projects;

23. Considers that encouragement and support should be given to mechanisms to enable members of civil society to participate and meet at national and regional level and within the ACP-EU framework;

24. Points out in particular the role of women in development and calls for the gender dimension to be taken into account in the formulation and implementation of common policies and strategies;

25. Expects that the 'mainstreaming¨ approach will be introduced contractually in all areas of future ACP-EU cooperation and the necessary instruments will be created to strengthen women's rights as regards equal access to education, training and job opportunities and their participation on an equal footing in all economic, social and political decision-making processes;

26. Calls for ACP-EU cooperation to take full account of the situation of children;

27. Calls for the new partnership to be characterized by the appropriation of cooperation by the people; the programmes must therefore be transparent and accessible;

28. Insists therefore that the needs and aspirations of human beings, in particular the poorest sections of the population, must be placed at the centre of the implementation of the convention;

As regards the objectives

29. Is convinced that combating poverty, sustainable development and progressive integration into the world economy are complementary objectives and notes that such objectives cannot be achieved if the position of women in developing countries is not greatly improved so that they can participate fully in achieving them;

30. Firmly believes that, in order to be effective, the policy for combating poverty and the crisis prevention policy must take into account the phenomenon of rapid urbanization which has emerged in the ACP countries and the resulting social and political instability; therefore proposes that a section devoted to urban development should be included in the Lomé Convention;

31. Points out however that economic growth is not sufficient in itself to ensure the eradication of poverty; calls for the implementation under ACP-EU cooperation of the commitments given at the World Summit on Social Development and for future cooperation to be aimed at achieving the targets on poverty reduction set by the OECD's Development Aid Committee, in particular reducing extreme poverty by half in the ACP countries by the year 2015;

32. Emphasizes that

- the alleviation of poverty must be an ever-present element of development work;

- focusing on the poorest will entail focusing on Africa;

- work to alleviate poverty does not just imply cooperation with the poorest countries; all sections of society living in poverty must be taken into consideration in every aspect of development work;

33. Emphasizes that the control of population growth is a crucial factor in the fight against poverty, just as it has a major impact on women's and children's living conditions; the EU, together with the ACP countries, must place great emphasis on the Cairo and Peking recommendations;

34. Calls, with a view to sustainable development, for the protection of the environment to be incorporated in the drawing up, implementation and evaluation of all policies, programmes and projects in line with the commitments given at the Earth Summit, particularly as regards food security, access to clean water and moves to solve problems of sanitation;

35. Advocates a joint ACP-EU environmental policy on the following subjects, among others:

- the conservation of biodiversity and the recognition of its resources as the intellectual property of the state and its inhabitants;

- the setting up of regional genetic banks in order to preserve local animal and plant species;

- the development and support of renewable and sustainable sources of energy;

- the halting of the process of desertification and drought;

- the protection of (tropical) forests, coastal zones and wetlands;

- the development and support of an urban environmental policy with regard to air pollution, waste management, etc.;

- action against desertification;

- the protection of natural resources;

36. Insists on the importance of improving the competitiveness of the economies of the ACP countries and creating a favourable environment for internal and external investment; insists that the basic social standards laid down in ILO Conventions should also be respected, as should environmental standards; stresses that it is crucial that both men and women are involved in achieving those aims;

37. Calls, therefore, for a decisive increase in the Union's contribution to the stability, competitiveness and development of the private sector, these being vital factors in the integration of the ACP countries into the world economic system;

38. Stresses, therefore, the importance of improving the competitiveness of firms in the ACP countries and of creating an environment conducive to internal and external investment;

39. Points out the importance of promoting culture and stresses the need to encourage cultural cooperation for dialogue and mutual understanding; however, in order to ensure that this dialogue does not turn into a monologue which benefits only the developed countries, there is an urgent need for the ACP countries to safeguard their audiovisual memory by consolidating and establishing specialized regional centres and by training staff;

40. Calls for particular attention to be given to the situation of the small island ACP countries by the adoption of specific measures, particularly as regards trade (rules of origin), the environment (climate change) and transport;

As regards the instruments

41. Considers that progress in cooperation and regional integration are indispensable for achieving the objectives adopted and calls for the EU to give priority support to these processes;

42. Stresses that the Commission has to review the OCT decision in the year 2000 and calls upon it to submit its proposals to that end in good time so as to enable the OCT decision to be coordinated, inter alia, with the 5th Lomé Convention;

43. Considers that it should be possible to invite Members of Parliament from the OCTs to attend the ACP-EU Joint Assembly when appropriate;

44. Calls for the Union's most remote regions and overseas countries and territories to be involved in the cooperation and regional integration processes promoted by the Union, so as to take full advantage of the synergy between ACP countries, OCTs and Community regions in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean;

45. Endorses the Commission proposal for priority support for the institutional dimension and the strengthening of capabilities of the countries concerned and of their citizens, both men and women; in particular, public authorities at local and national level must have, in areas such as education, health and labour administration, competent and effective administrative services serving the general public;

46. Calls for better basic education for broad sections of the population and the targeted training of future leaders;

47. Confirms its support, as regards trade, for the Commission option on differentiation within a single framework;

48. Recalls the vital importance of protocols on specific products (bananas, rum, sugar, beef) for the socio-economic development of many ACP countries and their harmonious integration into the international trade system; calls therefore for the fifth Lomé Convention to enhance the beneficial effect of such protocols on traditional trade flows in the countries or regions concerned;

49. Calls for a review of the specific instruments of ACP-EU cooperation, and in particular of Stabex and Sysmin, with the aim of putting an end to the exclusive dependence of ACP countries on a small number of basic products, and for the the competitiveness of ACP producers to be strengthened with regard to basic products; urges the modernization of Sysmin and the boosting of mining cooperation in order to remove handicaps linked to the unsuitability of rules and structures, inadequate skills and know-how and shortcomings in transport networks, and in order to encourage the resumption of private investment in a sector in which Africa's market share is in decline, even though neither resources, nor demand, nor capital are lacking;

50. Confirms its support for the strengthening of trade cooperation, the encouragement of optimum use of trade preferences and the elimination of residual obstacles (in particular by the simplification and more flexible application of the rules of origin);

51. Calls for measures to be taken to help the ACP countries become integrated into the world economy and in particular in the following areas:

- the establishment of regional economic areas;

- the diversification of production;

- the gradual adaptation to the rules governing international trade;

- the resumption of investment;

- the contribution of ACP-EU cooperation to monetary stabilization (role of the euro);

- the reduction of debts by repayment in local currency;

52. Proposes the establishment of a centre to monitor economic and trade and social practices and the establishment of an ACP label;

53. Calls for continued integration of aid and trade in order to build trade capacity, including training, health and education, infrastructure and technology transfer;

54. Calls for fair trade to be regarded as a valid and worthwhile instrument in ACP-EU relations and for specific measures to be taken to remove all obstacles to the practice of fair trade;

55. Considers it opportune to conclude regional investment agreements which balance the need to protect investments with an obligation on investors to comply with international standards relating to the rights of workers, affected communities and consumer and environmental protection; takes the view that the OCTs concerned should be involved in this process;

56. Points out that the debt burden borne by most of the ACP countries represents a serious obstacle to that objective of reducing poverty and jeopardizes the socioeconomic development of those countries; regards it as essential, therefore, that the European Union should continue and step up its efforts to reduce or cancel the ACP countries' debt and takes the view that the future partnership agreement must create new avenues for tackling this crucial problem;

57. Calls on the Union, by way of an extension of the initiative relating to the indebtedness of the poor countries launched at the Lyon European Council and in cooperation with the major international lenders, to envisage terms for rescheduling the debts incurred by the ACP countries towards it, especially by the least-developed among them;

58. Considers it urgent to take measures to reduce, convert and write off the external debt of the ACP countries and increase the involvement of private capital in the funding of infrastructures, by means of guarantee funds, without increasing the debt burden of the ACP countries;

59. Recalls that scientific research and technological development are decisive instruments for economic, social and cultural development in the ACP countries and takes the view, therefore, that increased support for their scientific and technical research is essential as well as for their preparation for the information society, particularly in regard to telecommunications, and proposes the establishment of a European foundation to provide long-term support for research laboratories in developing countries with a view to improving the understanding of the environments, resources and societies of these countries;

60. Considers that the next Convention should include ways of protecting intellectual property in the ACP countries, whose inventions are pirated on the spot whilst the few results of their research institutes are purchased by multinational companies, and whereas these countries have no access, on account of their cost, to the patents of developed countries;

61. Stresses the importance of the support to be given to research and to the use of what are known as 'first-line' technologies, i.e. simple practical technologies providing an escape from poverty, particularly in the areas of hygiene, water purification, the processing and recycling of waste, small-scale irrigation and craft industries;

62. Advocates measures to support the mass economy, not least in major urban areas, particularly as regards training and assistance with the marketing of products;

63. Stresses the importance of giving support and attention to the private sector, provided that this does not consist of subsidies for firms which, in order to become established and successful, need only legal safety, bank funding, trained staff and sound infrastructure; considers that the financial and technical support provided by the European Union must be extended to entrepreneurs in the informal sector, which provides more than half the population of most of the countries in the South with a livelihood, remedies the failings of the State in many sectors and creates jobs; considers that it is the entrepreneurs in this genuinely mass economy who must be helped to form associations, acquire training, manage their businesses, secure financing and equipment and establish sound relations with the public authorities, particularly as regards taxation and employment legislation;

64. Considers that micro-credits and the access to credit by the population are vital questions which should be dealt with in the new Lomé Convention; calls on the Commission to lay emphasis on access to credit in the negotiations on Lomé V, notably through ACP-EU financial cooperation designed to assist the popular economy and small and medium- sized businesses;

65. Considers it vitally important to facilitate the development of small businesses, cooperatives and craft industries, notably through forms of decentralized economic cooperation between European bodies and their ACP counterparts (business associations, industrial zones, technology and research centres), by supporting training, scientific and technological research and the setting-up of joint ventures;

66. Calls for urban management policies (housing, urban planning and public services) to be reviewed in order to ensure that they do not exacerbate the condition of the poorest sections in society and, in particular, that they do not destroy their jobs and lead to evictions without rehousing;

67. Emphasizes the importance of convertible currencies and calls for measures to support the developing countries in the development of effective and stable currency systems;

68. Stresses the need for improved cooperation between the EU Member States and ACP countries in the food and agriculture sector so that efforts are made to improve the level of food security in all the countries concerned;

69. Calls for the Inter-African Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters to be reactivated;

As regards financial and technical cooperation

70. Considers that drastic simplification is needed to make cooperation transparent, effective and visible;

71. Considers that predictable ground rules are essential and that country programmes must be based on the needs and wishes of the ACP countries and strengthen the synergies for regional development;

72. Supports, amongst the proposed options, the retention of three financial envelopes (long-term, short-term, nongovernmental operators) and the inclusion of existing instruments therein;

73. Reiterates its call for the incorporation of the EDF into the EU budget;

74. Confirms its support, when favourable conditions exist, for budgetary and sectoral assistance in the place of project aid, provided this support is made conditional on the implementation of the social programme laid down at the United Nations Conference in Copenhagen;

75. Supports, as regards the management of cooperation, the option of autonomous management by the beneficiary countries, which in particular helps strengthen capabilities;

76. Points out that development is first and foremost a matter for the people concerned themselves, the men and women who are required to agree on, organize and implement development measures, and that there must therefore be increased support for the social dimension and it must be included fully

in the dialogue on policies which will encourage the necessary adjustments to the education system, in particular for girls, the health system, including reproductive health, and improvements in living and working conditions;

77. Is convinced that all policies must be reviewed in order to determine how they affect poverty, that the impact of development programmes and trade policies on poverty and gender must be assessed and that this evaluation must be as rigorous as the environmental impact assessment carried out by the EU;

78. Calls on NGOs to make their commitment to the poor a priority and calls on the European Union to help them

- to escape from the straightjacket of projects in order to build on the traditional skills of district associations and groups of farmers and villagers and to enable them to take control of the planning and implementation of the measures which concern them;

- to develop the information and communication skills and the means of expression, both internally and towards the outside world, of the groups with which they work;

- to use leading-edge technologies which draw on the technical and cultural skills and resources of local people and cheap and easily disseminated outside technological assistance;

79. Stresses the need to incorporate into the programmes social criteria which improve the living and working conditions of the entire population; advocates the drafting of a social audit of the ACP countries; regards decentralized cooperation as one of the major innovations of Lomé IV, but regrets the fact that it has not yet been properly implemented, for example by social operators, and points, in this connection, to its great potential in connection with local initiatives; calls for special incentives to be introduced for those countries which comply with the 20% criterion laid down at the Copenhagen Social Summit;

80. Considers that aspects which concern the rule of law (the working conditions of the police, gendarmerie and courts), human rights, freedom of association and which encourage the existence of a free and responsible press should also be included in the dialogue on policies;

81. Calls on the Commission to ensure that structural adjustment programmes ensure that more rather than less support is given to basic social services;

82. Calls on the Commission to establish an independent complaints mechanism for individuals or communities who consider that they have been damaged by cooperation in Lomé V;

83. Considers that the Commission, as a result of unjustified reductions in staff, does not at present have the staffing resources required to take on tasks which are increasing quantitatively and qualitatively, and considers that the objectives adopted could not be achieved without a reassessment of the human resources;

84. Considers that Commission delegates in ACP countries are unable to function effectively because of both insufficient staffing and the over- centralization of decision-making within Council committees, and calls for this situation to be urgently addressed so that cooperation can be effectively implemented within Lomé V;

85. Considers that the reform envisaged by the Commission of the management of cooperation should make it possible to concentrate the work of the Commission on the implementation of the proposed new policies;

86. Considers that provision should be made, on a rota basis and for a fixed period, for the presence of representatives of the ACP countries in the Commission offices responsible for administering ACP-EU relations so as to improve awareness of the managerial mechanisms and capacities of the ACP countries;

As regards the responsibilities of the European Union

87. Demands the retention of the EU's commitment towards the South and does not accept its recent reduction;

88. Is alarmed by the efforts to renationalize development cooperation policies being made by the Member States of the European Union, as illustrated by the failure of the Member States to propose greater coordination of national policies in some ACP countries and by the drastic reduction in the development budget for 1998;

89. Points out that the results of the Vth Lomé Convention will also depend on the capability of the EU

- to achieve better coordination between the policies of the Member States and European policy;

- to make its policies more consistent, as pointed out by the Council in its conclusions of 2 June 1997, in particular as regards conflict prevention, food security, fisheries and migration;

- to draw up their own development strategies for structural adjustment, trade, debt, agriculture, security of food supplies, the environment, gender, population, measures specifically geared to women, health, social policy, etc., which are necessary to permit dialogue on policies;

- to act within the appropriate fora (G8, Bretton Woods institutions, WTO, UN conferences, etc.) in accordance with the aims and commitments of its development policy;

- to affirm its identity in all international fora (e.g. WHO, ILO);

90. Notes with great regret the limited political scope of the results achieved at the Amsterdam Summit and the reform of the Maastricht Treaty, which has failed to produce significant changes, particularly as regards development cooperation policy; is deeply disappointed at the outcome of the summit, particularly as regards the European Council's inability to make development cooperation an integral part of the common foreign and security policy and accord it the status needed to enable it to promote the mutually advantageous political dialogue which should have been included in the new Treaty;

91. Insists that coordination in the field should take greater account of the priorities of the ACP countries concerned and of other donors' activities; considers that the ACP countries must be responsible for coordination and if they have insufficient capacity to discharge such responsibilities, the donors should help build up capacity;

92. Insists in particular on the urgent need to make the common agricultural policy, commercial policy and fisheries policy consistent with development policy;

93. Considers that the EU, which did not respect its commitments towards the developing countries in the negotiation of the Uruguay round, must use all possible means to have it recognized that non-reciprocal preferences and protocols are instruments of development until the stated objectives are achieved;

94. Calls in particular for the EU to pursue all means of appeal against the outcome of the WTO panel on bananas;

95. Is deeply concerned at the way in which the World Trade Organization has called into question the preferential trade arrangements under Lomé, as in the case of the 'panel on bananas'; calls on the Commission to use all legal means available to oppose what is an outright attempt by the WTO to crush Lomé and asks the Council to give the Commission a mandate to negotiate with the WTO differentiated trade regimes for the ACP countries in respect of products which are economically and socially sensitive;

96. Calls on the Commission to ensure, when the CAP is reformed with a view to enlargement, that the CAP is consistent with the objectives of fair cooperation set out in the Convention of Lomé;

97. Recalls the Commission's negative proposal to amend the 'cocoa directive' as an example of the lack of consistency in development policy;

98. Warmly welcomes the Commission's proposal for a global European strategy vis-a-vis the ACP countries and calls for its implementation;

99. Notes and welcomes the start of cooperation between the EU and the OAU;

100. Calls, with a view to the Europe-Africa Summit, for the drawing up of a Union Africa policy encompassing all aspects including security;

101. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States and of the ACP countries.