WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3879/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Green Paper on ACP-EU relations
Date: 1997-12-05
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: ACP countries, EU relations, Lomé Convention, economic cooperation, economic development, environmental cooperation, financial cooperation, social development, trade cooperation

C 196/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 6. 98

(98/C 196/36)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3879/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(5 December 1997)

Subject: Green Paper on ACP-EU relations

With reference to the 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)  570  final),  a  closer  political
relationship between the EU and the ACP countries is needed in order to restore a sense of partnership and at the
same  time  to  adjust  the  cooperation  framework  so  as  to  make  it  easier  for  these  countries  to  open  up  to
international trade. New forms of cooperation are needed and provision should be made for active participation
by non-governmental players. In addition, the geographical scope of the future partnership agreement could be
adjusted to take account of the need for a more coherent and coordinated approach towards the ACP countries.

Will the Commission take greater account of geographical diversity and differences in terms of development
when renewing the Convention?

(98/C 196/37)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3880/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(5 December 1997)

Subject: Green Paper on ACP-EU relations

With reference to the 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) 570 final), the trade relations between
the European Union and the 70 ACP States are entering a new phase. A wide-ranging review is needed of the
future guidelines for these relations (the current Convention expires in February 2000), which must take account
above  all  both  of  the  new  global  environment  and  the  European  Union(cid:146)s  increased  political  and  economic
responsibilities on the international stage.

With this in view, will the Commission choose the option of (cid:145)differentiated reciprocity(cid:146) in order to ensure the
gradual integration of ACP countries into international trade and to revitalize trade between the European Union
and the ACP countries?

(98/C 196/38)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3881/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(5 December 1997)

Subject: Green Paper on ACP-EU relations

The Commission has published a 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) 570 final).

The Lome· Convention has provided the framework for trade and aid between the EU and the ACP countries, now
numbering  71,  since  1975.  It  has  been  overhauled  every  five  years  to  adjust  it  to  economic  and  political
developments, introduce cooperation instruments and set fresh priorities. The last revision took place in 1995.
The Fourth Lome· Convention, currently in force, expires on 29 February 2000 and the negotiations between the
contracting parties are due to start 18 months beforehand, in other words in September 1998. By then the EU
must be in a position to set out its views clearly.

Community  cooperation  has  made  a  considerable  contribution  to  many  ACP  countries  and  has  undoubtedly
helped improve the living conditions of their populations. On the eve of the 21st century, relations between the
European Union and the ACP countries need to be placed on a new footing, taking account not only of changed
political and economic conditions for development but also of changed attitudes in Europe.