2004/680/EC: Council Decision of 24 September 2004 concluding consultations with Guinea-Bissau under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement

8.10.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 311/27
COUNCIL DECISION
of 24 September 2004
concluding consultations with Guinea-Bissau under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement
(2004/680/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to the Partnership agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (ACP-EC Partnership Agreement) (1), and in particular Article 96 thereof,
Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (2), and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The essential elements cited in Article 9 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement were violated by the military coup of 14 September 2003 in Guinea-Bissau, as condemned by the European Union in a statement of 18 September 2003.
(2) Pursuant to Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, consultations were held on 19 January 2004 with the ACP countries and Guinea-Bissau, at which Guinea-Bissau's authorities gave specific undertakings aimed at remedying the problems set out by the European Union and to be implemented during a period of intensive dialogue lasting three months.
(3) At the end of this period, a number of practical measures regarding essential elements of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement were found to have resulted from the above undertakings; nevertheless, certain important measures specially concerning consolidation of public finances have still not been adequately implemented in practice,