The Cotonou Agreement, also known as the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, is a comprehensive trade and development agreement between the European Union (EU) and 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. The agreement was signed in 2000 in Cotonou, Benin, and was originally set to expire in 2020. However, it has been extended until 2025.
The primary objective of the Cotonou Agreement is to promote sustainable development and reduce poverty in the ACP countries, through various mechanisms such as trade and investment, development aid, and political cooperation. The agreement is based on three main pillars: development cooperation, economic and trade cooperation, and political cooperation.
Under the development cooperation pillar, the EU provides financial assistance to the ACP countries to support their development priorities such as education, health, and infrastructure. The economic and trade cooperation pillar enables the ACP countries to access the EU market on a quota-free and duty-free basis, and also provides support for regional integration and trade capacity building. The political cooperation pillar aims to promote peace, stability, and good governance in the ACP countries.
The Cotonou Agreement also includes various provisions related to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The agreement requires the EU and ACP countries to promote and protect these values in their domestic policies, and to cooperate in the fields of migration, security, and human rights.
One of the key challenges facing the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement is the issue of asymmetry between the EU and ACP countries. The EU is a much stronger economic power than the ACP countries, and this can sometimes lead to unequal power dynamics in the implementation of the agreement. To address this challenge, the ACP countries have called for a more balanced partnership with the EU, which takes into account their specific needs and priorities.
Overall, the Cotonou Agreement is an important instrument for promoting development and cooperation between the EU and ACP countries. Its extension until 2025 provides an opportunity for the EU and ACP countries to strengthen their partnership and to work together towards achieving their development objectives.