African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) is a group of countries (currently 79: 48 African, 16 Caribbean and 15 Pacific), created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. The group's main objectives are sustainable development and poverty reduction within its member states, as well as their greater integration into the world's economy. All of the member states, except Cuba are signatories to the Cotonou Agreement with the European Union.

The Cotonou Agreement (signed in Cotonou, Benin in June 2000) is the successor to the Lomé Conventions. One of the major differences from the Lomé Convention is that the partnership is extended to new actors such as civil society, private sector, trade unions and local authorities. These will be involved in consultations and planning of national development strategies, provided with access to financial resources and involved in the implementation of programmes.

Many small island developing states are ACP states; the fourth Lomé Convention was revised in 1995 in Mauritius and gives special attention to island countries in this agreement.

Contents

States

Africa

The African ACP countries negotiate in five EPA groups[1] (West Africa, CEMAC, SADC, EAC, Eastern and Southern Africa) with the EU. The related EU OCTs are: Mayotte (for ESA) and the related EU outermost regions are: Réunion (for ESA), Canary Islands (for West Africa), Madeira (for West Africa), Azores (for West Africa).

SADC group

EAC group

"Eastern and Southern Africa group" (COMESA related)

 "CEMAC plus São Tomé and Príncipe, DR Congo group" (ECCAS related)

"West Africa group" (ECOWAS plus Mauritania)

Caribbean

All countries of the Caribbean Community plus Dominican Republic group negotiate in the CARIFORUM EPA with the EU. The related EU OCTs are: Aruba, Bermuda,[2] British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat[3] and the related EU outermost regions are Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy.

Pacific

All countries of the Pacific Islands Forum group negotiate in the Pacific EPA with the EU. The related EU OCTs are: New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia, Pitcairn islands.[3]

North Atlantic

In this region are located the EU OCTs of Greenland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, but there are no ACP states.[3]

South Atlantic

In this region are located the EU OCTs of Saint Helena and Falkland Islands, but there are no ACP states.[3] Nevertheless Saint Helena is developing links with the SADC EPA group.[4]

Uninhabited territories

The uninhabited EU OCTs do not participate in regional integration and do not receive development funding from the EU.

Special designations

Annex VI of the agreement lists the following designations:

Least-developed ACP states

The Least developed OCTs are the following: Anguilla, Mayotte, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.[7]

Landlocked ACP states

Island ACP states

See also

References

  1. ^ EPA Groups
  2. ^ Bermuda
  3. ^ a b c d e f g OCT regional groups
  4. ^ Saint Helena
  5. ^ Because of forced population relocation the BIOT it is commonly associated with Mauritius that is currently in the Eastern and Southern Africa EPA group.[1]
  6. ^ TAAF The islands of the TAAF are located in the southern Indian Ocean and thus if applicable would be associated with the SADC EPA group. The antarctic territory is also located near the south-eastern edge of the Indian Ocean
  7. ^ Overseas Association Decision, Annex I B

External links

The Third World
Organizations
Geopolitics
 International reach and expansion of the European Union
Theory
Reach
Partnerships
Representation
Assets