The ACP-EU relations as espoused in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement will come to an end in 2020. The negotiations for the review of the ACP-EU relations post-2020 are expected to commence in 2018. Fiji’s development cooperation with the European Union is principally guided by the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). Fiji has benefitted immensely over the years through:

  1. i) Trade – principally through the preferential EU market for sugar, which is now being implemented under the Fiji/EU Interim Economic Partnership Agreement; and
  2. ii) The Development Finance Cooperation, which is implemented at three levels, namely national, regional and intra-ACP cooperation.

The Fijian Prime Minister addressed the ACP Summit of the Heads of State and Government held in Port Moresby, PNG, on 31 May 2016 on the future of ACP and Relations with the EU post-2020 and outlined Fiji’s position as follows:

  • Fully endorsed the EPG recommendation that the ACP Group should continue as an entity with greater emphasis on the principles of unity, solidarity, complementarity and subsidiarity.
  • Supported the recommendation that the experience and lessons learnt over the 40 years of the Group’s existence should provide guidance and a clearer vision for the attainment of social, political and economic development in an inclusive and sustainable manner for our peoples.
  • Fully supported the EPG’s recommendation that the group’s solidarity be guided by the commonality of interests among its members as well as the individual circumstances or challenges of each country.
  • Submitted that the ACP Group needed to forge ahead as a single entity, reinforce its global presence, identify common interests of its members and integrate with emerging regional bodies.
  • Stressed that the new ACP needed to be relevant to the needs of our member states and the emerging global challenges in line with the EPG Report recommendation that the ACP become a people-focused organisation that responds to the needs of clients and beneficiaries, sighting Fiji, as an example, which has achieved unprecedented positive economic performance by placing people at the centre of all our legislation, policies and initiatives.

The Mission has remained heavily involved in the ongoing deliberations on the post-2020 ACP-EU relations. The following is the timeline on the lead up to the negotiations in 2018:

  • September – November 2016: Stakeholder Consultations to engage RECs/RIOs/AU and Civil Society – Critique and Assessment of ACP-EU Post Cotonou Agreement.
  • December 2016: 104th Session of ACP Council of Ministers – Elements of a Framework for a Post-Cotonou Agreement.
  • Jan-June 2017: Consultations on Strategic Policy Domains/Pillars of the Repositioned ACP Group – Areas for Revision of the Georgetown Agreements; Membership and Regionalisation; diversified Partnerships; Structure, Organs, and Functions; Financial Sustainability.
  • Sept.-Dec. 2017: White Paper for Negotiating Memorandum on ACP-EU Relations Post Cotonou.
  • Jan-June 2018: Exchange of Negotiating Memoranda.