Cotonou AgreementCotonou Agreement(EPA)(EPA)

Programme for Workers’ ActivitiesProgramme for Workers’ Activities(ACTRAV)(ACTRAV)

Trade Union Guide: ETUC, ICFTU & Trade Union Guide: ETUC, ICFTU & WCLWCL

Insa Ben Said DIAInsa Ben Said DIASenior Programme OfficerSenior Programme Officer

Cotonou AgreementCotonou Agreement

A New Agreement at a Turning A New Agreement at a Turning Point in HistoryPoint in History– Signed 23rd June 2000 for 20 yearsSigned 23rd June 2000 for 20 years

Three Core ObjectivesThree Core Objectives

Reducing and eventually eradicating Reducing and eventually eradicating poverty in the ACP countries;poverty in the ACP countries;

Sustainable development; andSustainable development; and

Gradual integration of the ACP Gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy.countries into the world economy.

Fundamental Principles ofFundamental Principles ofthe New Agreementthe New Agreement

Equality of the partners and the ACP States’ sovereign Equality of the partners and the ACP States’ sovereign right to set their priorities and development strategies;right to set their priorities and development strategies;

Participation by civil society organisations as partners Participation by civil society organisations as partners in the agreement; in the agreement;

Pivotal role of political dialogue on all aspects of the Pivotal role of political dialogue on all aspects of the EU/ACP partnership and the fulfilment of mutual EU/ACP partnership and the fulfilment of mutual obligations assumed by the parties; andobligations assumed by the parties; and

Differentiation between the least-developed and other Differentiation between the least-developed and other ACP countries, and encouragement for the formation of ACP countries, and encouragement for the formation of regional economic groupings of ACP countries.regional economic groupings of ACP countries.

InstitutionInstitution

The ACP/EU Council of MinistersThe ACP/EU Council of Ministers

The Committee of AmbassadorsThe Committee of Ambassadors

The Joint parliamentary AssemblyThe Joint parliamentary Assembly

Areas of SupportAreas of Support1) Economic development, trade co-operation 1) Economic development, trade co-operation

(Article 21.1)(Article 21.1)2) Social and human development (Article 25.1)2) Social and human development (Article 25.1)3) Regional Co-operation and integration3) Regional Co-operation and integration4) Thematic and cross-cutting issues (Article 33.3)4) Thematic and cross-cutting issues (Article 33.3)

- Gender issues, particularly promoting, building the - Gender issues, particularly promoting, building the capacity and role of women;capacity and role of women;

- Sustainable management of natural resources and - Sustainable management of natural resources and environmental protection; andenvironmental protection; and

- Institutional development & capacity building for ACP - Institutional development & capacity building for ACP StatesStates

Progress and Strengths of the Progress and Strengths of the Cotonou Agreement (1)Cotonou Agreement (1)

Transparency as a principle of development Transparency as a principle of development co-operation and the basis of accountable co-operation and the basis of accountable governance;governance;

Participation by non-state actors in all areas Participation by non-state actors in all areas of co-operation;of co-operation;

sustainable social and human development sustainable social and human development as a priority focus of co-operation;as a priority focus of co-operation;

Fundamental social rights as an integral part Fundamental social rights as an integral part of growth and/or economic development; andof growth and/or economic development; and

Regional integration as a strategic Regional integration as a strategic priority to foster the closer integration priority to foster the closer integration of the ACP countries into the world of the ACP countries into the world market;market;

Decentralised co-operation; andDecentralised co-operation; and The supply of technical assistance only The supply of technical assistance only

on request by ACP countrieson request by ACP countries

Progress and Strengths of the Progress and Strengths of the Cotonou Agreement (2)Cotonou Agreement (2)

More Rapid and Flexible More Rapid and Flexible Procedures for Accessing Procedures for Accessing

Financial ResourcesFinancial Resources The Agreement’s general frame of The Agreement’s general frame of

reference has been extended to include reference has been extended to include “relevant conventions of the ILO (Preamble “relevant conventions of the ILO (Preamble to the Cotonou Agreement);to the Cotonou Agreement);

The concern to keep social rights and The concern to keep social rights and fundamental labour standards very much to fundamental labour standards very much to the fore in economic and trade co-operation the fore in economic and trade co-operation practise through express references to the practise through express references to the ILO Conventions No. 87, No. 98, No. 105, ILO Conventions No. 87, No. 98, No. 105, No. 182, No. 111 (Article 50)No. 182, No. 111 (Article 50)

Weakness ofWeakness ofthe Cotonou Agreementthe Cotonou Agreement

Nowhere does the Agreement mention the Nowhere does the Agreement mention the EU’s interests in pursuing co-operation with EU’s interests in pursuing co-operation with the ACP countries (“recipients” and “donors” );the ACP countries (“recipients” and “donors” );

The shift from a development co-operation The shift from a development co-operation agreement to a free trade agreement;agreement to a free trade agreement;

Ambivalence on the protection of democracy Ambivalence on the protection of democracy and peace; unions consd as subversive when and peace; unions consd as subversive when remaining independent of the stateremaining independent of the state

Trade Union DemandsTrade Union Demands Setting up machinery to give all players a real say Setting up machinery to give all players a real say

in project and programme design, programming, in project and programme design, programming, implementation and evaluation. Trade unions implementation and evaluation. Trade unions repeat their call for a tripartite, national or regional repeat their call for a tripartite, national or regional co-operation programme management committee co-operation programme management committee to be set up in each ACP State and/or region.to be set up in each ACP State and/or region.

The trade union movement stands by its believe The trade union movement stands by its believe that there can be no real development without that there can be no real development without observance of fundamental social and labour rights.observance of fundamental social and labour rights.

Co-operation Strategy (CS)Co-operation Strategy (CS) Joint document prepared by the ACP State and the EU Joint document prepared by the ACP State and the EU

“following consultations with a wide range of actors in “following consultations with a wide range of actors in the development process (Article 2. Annex IV)the development process (Article 2. Annex IV) Analyses:Analyses: the country’s political, economic and social the country’s political, economic and social

context, its constraints, capacities and prospects, context, its constraints, capacities and prospects, including an assessment of basic needs;including an assessment of basic needs;

Details:Details: the country’s medium-term development the country’s medium-term development strategy, priorities, financing requirements and any strategy, priorities, financing requirements and any contributions (ACP State, EU, other donors active in the contributions (ACP State, EU, other donors active in the country);country);

Defines:Defines: the most appropriate support mechanisms to be the most appropriate support mechanisms to be applied in implementing the development strategies applied in implementing the development strategies worked out.worked out.

National Indicative Programme National Indicative Programme (NIP)(NIP)

Document drown by the ACP State to:Document drown by the ACP State to:– Specify the focal (priority) areas on which EU indicative Specify the focal (priority) areas on which EU indicative

financial support should be concentrated in response to the financial support should be concentrated in response to the country’s co-operation strategy;country’s co-operation strategy;

– Present the most appropriate measures and operations, and Present the most appropriate measures and operations, and the allocation of financial resources reserved for projects the allocation of financial resources reserved for projects and programmes in and outside the focus areas for support;and programmes in and outside the focus areas for support;

– Identify the eligible non-governmental actors and the Identify the eligible non-governmental actors and the indicative resources allocated to them.indicative resources allocated to them.

Trade unions and civil society organizations must ensure Trade unions and civil society organizations must ensure that they are fully involved in drawing up these that they are fully involved in drawing up these documentsdocuments

What do you do?What do you do?

Trade unions must:Trade unions must:– Find out about consultation dates and deadlines, Find out about consultation dates and deadlines,

national development priorities, the methods and national development priorities, the methods and procedures for participation in national procedures for participation in national programming;programming;

– Focus on the social aspect of national development Focus on the social aspect of national development programmes, get decentralised co-operation programmes, get decentralised co-operation included in focal areas on which aid is concentrated, included in focal areas on which aid is concentrated, and see that national economic guidelines take the and see that national economic guidelines take the vital role of social actors into account.vital role of social actors into account.

Where to Get the Information Where to Get the Information From? (1)From? (1)

The Government (National The Government (National Authorising Officer, or the Ministry Authorising Officer, or the Ministry with responsibility for international with responsibility for international co-operation or national planning)co-operation or national planning)

The European Commission’s The European Commission’s Delegation in the countryDelegation in the country

Ask to be involved in consultations and national Ask to be involved in consultations and national programming, referring to the Cotonou Agreementprogramming, referring to the Cotonou Agreement

Ask for a tripartite consultation committee to be set Ask for a tripartite consultation committee to be set up, with members representing the ACP state, the up, with members representing the ACP state, the EU Delegation and civil societyEU Delegation and civil society

Thoroughly prepare their input into the national Thoroughly prepare their input into the national programming activities:programming activities: Identify the specific areas to focus on when finalising the Identify the specific areas to focus on when finalising the

Co-operation Strategy and the National Indicative Co-operation Strategy and the National Indicative Programme;Programme;

Frame workable programmes and projects in line with the Frame workable programmes and projects in line with the eligibility criteria and eligible areas; andeligibility criteria and eligible areas; and

Make sure they are keeping within the set deadlines.Make sure they are keeping within the set deadlines.

Where to Get the Information Where to Get the Information From? (2)From? (2)

If Allowed to Participate, If Allowed to Participate, What to Emphasise?What to Emphasise?

Social aspects in national programming, Social aspects in national programming, decentralised co-operation;decentralised co-operation;

Social actor involvement in setting the Social actor involvement in setting the economic guidelines of the CS and NIP; economic guidelines of the CS and NIP; andand

The social impacts of deregulation and The social impacts of deregulation and trade liberalisation plus alternative trade liberalisation plus alternative measures and policies.measures and policies.

If Not Allowed to Participate,If Not Allowed to Participate,What to Do?What to Do?

Notify the international trade union Notify the international trade union of which you are a member (ICTU)of which you are a member (ICTU)

Protest in writing to the ACP State Protest in writing to the ACP State and the EU delegation in the and the EU delegation in the country, referring to the provisions country, referring to the provisions of the Agreement.of the Agreement.

Fact Sheet (1)Fact Sheet (1) EPA:Article 37 of the agreement.Economic EPA:Article 37 of the agreement.Economic

dimension of CAdimension of CA Reciproqual trade agreements.Respect of Reciproqual trade agreements.Respect of

the Most Favoured Nation.WTO rules.the Most Favoured Nation.WTO rules. To be signed into 6 zones: Caribbean,Pacific To be signed into 6 zones: Caribbean,Pacific

and4Africazones:West(ECOWAS),Central(CEand4Africazones:West(ECOWAS),Central(CEMAC),East(ESA),Southern Africa(SADC)MAC),East(ESA),Southern Africa(SADC)

EPAs are not compulsoryEPAs are not compulsory «You cannot eat growth»«You cannot eat growth»

Fact Sheet (2)Fact Sheet (2)UNION PROPOSALS for EPASUNION PROPOSALS for EPAS

Have a social dimension. Respect of Have a social dimension. Respect of workers’rights (Article 50 of CA)workers’rights (Article 50 of CA)

8coreconventions+102(SP),183(MP)1228coreconventions+102(SP),183(MP)122(EP),81(LIin industry),129(AS),97(MW)(EP),81(LIin industry),129(AS),97(MW)

Decent work in all sectors of productionDecent work in all sectors of production Social protection/micro Social protection/micro

credits,insurance,solutions to the needs credits,insurance,solutions to the needs of the population.of the population.

FACT SHEET (3)…FACT SHEET (3)… Negociate a general framework Negociate a general framework

agreement in each EPAagreement in each EPA The European national unions should The European national unions should

make interventions among their make interventions among their national and European members of national and European members of parliament/Gvnment to have in the GF:parliament/Gvnment to have in the GF:

Guarantee of social rights,DW and SP,Guarantee of social rights,DW and SP, On our side,establish a regional union On our side,establish a regional union

structure in the 6 negociation regions structure in the 6 negociation regions

Together we need to negotiate a general framework agreement in which each EPA guarantees social rights, decent work and social Together we need to negotiate a general framework agreement in which each EPA guarantees social rights, decent work and social protection…Be in touch with the European institutions (Economic and social Committee,Parliament…). The new international organization protection…Be in touch with the European institutions (Economic and social Committee,Parliament…). The new international organization

(ITUC) should take initiatives to remind to the EU the new spirit of cooperation and to respect the content of the Cotonou Agreement.(ITUC) should take initiatives to remind to the EU the new spirit of cooperation and to respect the content of the Cotonou Agreement.Thank You AllThank You AllBen Said DIABen Said DIA

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