Development Ministers from EU Countries Discuss Partnership with Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Region
20 February 2018 News
The future Partnership Agreement between the EU and Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Region (ACP) after 2020, the Mid-term review report on external financial instruments and the proposed setting up of a European Bank for Foreign Investment and Partnership were in the focus of attention of EU ministers responsible for development at their informal meeting in Brussels today.
The meeting kicked off with an exchange of opinions on the future EU-ACP Partnership Agreement after 2020, which must build upon the Cotonou Agreement. Negotiations on the framework of future relations must start not later than September 1 of this year.
The Bulgarian Presidency will strive towards reaching an agreement on a common position of the EU and will work consistently for building consensus among the member states. The matter of post-Cotonou partnership is of great significance in light of the common challenges facing the countries of the ACP region. The future agreement will have significant political, trade, financial, development-related and other long-term implications.
The ministers also discussed the report of the EU mid-term review of external financial instruments and the proposed setting up of a European Bank for Foreign Investment and Partnership within the framework of the European Investment Bank.
The mid-term review enables us to evaluate the effectiveness of our external financial instruments. It is the position of the Bulgarian government that the time has come to consider how we can continue to meet the ever-changing global challenges in the best possible way, given the limited resources at our disposal.
The working lunch was dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals and the reform of the UN system. Also participating in it was Achim Steiner, the head of the UN Development Program. The Sustainable Development Goals – formulated in the 2030 Agenda – emphasize above all dealing with poverty, achieving food security and promoting the prosperity and well-being of people the world over. Ensuring an equitable and inclusive high-quality education for all as well as gender equality were also highlighted as priority areas.