EP DEVE Committee hosts AU: Cooperation progress going well but African Union stresses its funding gaps

On the eve of the negotiations for a Post-Cotonou Agreement, which will manage the relations between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states after the Cotonou agreement expires in 2020, discussions between the stakeholders areintensifying. On 24 April 2018 the Development Committee (DEVE) of the European Parliament (EP) held a joint sitting with the Delegation to the ACPGroup of Statesto discuss the reform of the African Union.Their progress for reforming the African Union was described as good, however the speakers focused on theirfunding gaps, and asked for the assistance of the EU as their “major partner”.

European Parliament discusses human rights in ACP countries

On January 24, the European Parliament Committee on Human Rights (DROI) had an exchange of views on human rights in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries.The speakers discussed the Cotonou Agreement that governs the relations between the European Union (EU) and the ACP countries, and which expires in 2020. In the coming two years, a new text will be negotiated including changes and new additions to make it more applicable to the current ever-changing state of play.