WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3880/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Green Paper on ACP-EU relations
C 196/26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 6. 98 (98/C 196/36) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3879/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (5 December 1997) Subject: Green Paper on ACP-EU relations With reference to the Green Paper on relations between the European Union and the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st century › challenges and options for a new partnership (COM(96) 570 final), a closer political relationship between the EU and the ACP countries is needed in order to restore a sense of partnership and at the same time to adjust the cooperation framework so as to make it easier for these countries to open up to international trade. New forms of cooperation are needed and provision should be made for active participation by non-governmental players. In addition, the geographical scope of the future partnership agreement could be adjusted to take account of the need for a more coherent and coordinated approach towards the ACP countries. Will the Commission take greater account of geographical diversity and differences in terms of development when renewing the Convention? (98/C 196/37) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3880/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (5 December 1997) Subject: Green Paper on ACP-EU relations With reference to the Green Paper on relations between the European Union and the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st century › challenges and options for a new partnership (COM(96) 570 final), the trade relations between the European Union and the 70 ACP States are entering a new phase. A wide-ranging review is needed of the future guidelines for these relations (the current Convention expires in February 2000), which must take account above all both of the new global environment and the European Unionís increased political and economic responsibilities on the international stage. With this in view, will the Commission choose the option of ádifferentiated reciprocityí in order to ensure the gradual integration of ACP countries into international trade and to revitalize trade between the European Union and the ACP countries? (98/C 196/38) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3881/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (5 December 1997) Subject: Green Paper on ACP-EU relations The Commission has published a Green Paper on relations between the European Union and the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st century › challenges and options for a new partnership (COM(96) 570 final). The Lome· Convention has provided the framework for trade and aid between the EU and the ACP countries, now numbering 71, since 1975. It has been overhauled every five years to adjust it to economic and political developments, introduce cooperation instruments and set fresh priorities. The last revision took place in 1995. The Fourth Lome· Convention, currently in force, expires on 29 February 2000 and the negotiations between the contracting parties are due to start 18 months beforehand, in other words in September 1998. By then the EU must be in a position to set out its views clearly. Community cooperation has made a considerable contribution to many ACP countries and has undoubtedly helped improve the living conditions of their populations. On the eve of the 21st century, relations between the European Union and the ACP countries need to be placed on a new footing, taking account not only of changed political and economic conditions for development but also of changed attitudes in Europe