A four-day conference of the Parliamentary Assembly ACP-EU kicked off in Ljubljana on Monday, with the signing of Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and five regions in the club of African, Caribbean and Pacific nations topping the agenda.
The EU wants to focus in 2008 on the signing of comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with ACP regions, Prime Minister Janez Jansa, the president of the European Council, said in his keynote address.
The EU is signing such agreements, which will replace the Cotonou Agreement on development and economic cooperation, with the Caribbean, West Africa, Eastern and South Africa, Central Africa and the Pacific regions.
Jansa pointed out that the purpose of the EPAs is clear: greater economic growth, the gradual integration of ACP countries in the global economy and the promotion of regional integration.
Only the deal with the Caribbean was initialed so far, in late 2007. Jansa hailed the step as "paving the way for agreements with the remaining five regions."
As the presiding EU country, Slovenia would make efforts that special attention is given in the EPA negotiations to the development part of the agreements and an adjustable approach.
The EU co-chair of the parliamentary assembly, MEP Glenys Kinnock, expressed concern that 32 ACP countries have not yet ratified the revised Cotonou Agreement. At least six more would have to ratify it before it can enter into force.
Wilkie Rasmussen, the ACP co-chair of the parliamentary assembly, noted that more countries had ratified the accord, but they are yet top deposit the documents proving ratification.
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