Accra (Greater Accra) 13 May 2002- European Union (EU) member states have allocated an additional over 350 million euro to Ghana, under the Cotonou Accord. In addition, to their bilateral assistance, they have contributed nearly one billion euro towards Ghana’s development and its fight against poverty under the Lome Conventions.
This was stated by Stafan Frowein, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana on the occasion of Europe Day held in Accra on 9 May 2002.
Frowein said the 350 million euro consists entirely of grants, which would be spread for five years. He recalled that a new partnership agreement between the African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) states and the EU was signed in Cotonou in June 2000. Known as the Cotonou accord, it was signed by all 15 European member states and the 77 ACP states. In this way, he said, a new phase of EU-ACP relations has been launched, firmly based on shares values of democracy and human rights, on development through trade and on a massive reduction of poverty.
The Head of Delegation said in this context, the ACP and the European Community would enter into negotiation of Regional Economic Partnership Agreements (REPA) from 27 September 2002.
“The European Commission is convinced that REPAs need to become an instrument for development. We are aware that we are going to negotiate with the poorest and most vulnerable regions of the world. REPAs have to take account of this but should, at the same time, lead the way towards the progressive integration of the ACP states into the world economy. Therefore, the Community approach will be characterised by three important principles.”
He said REPAs should promote existing regional integration, tackle all bottlenecks to trade and economic development and REPAs need to be sufficiently flexible to take account of the level of development of the ACP states. Clearly, REPAs need to be in line with EU’s agenda in the World Trade Organisation (WTO.) WTO negotiations and mutually supportive, he explained.
He stressed that it is key that Ghana will be well prepared for the REPA negotiations and implementation and, at the same time, for the negotiations in the multilateral WTO context. The European Commission but also EU member states are ready to assist in Areas such as capacity and institutional building.
He recalled that Robert Schulman’s declaration of 9 May 1950, was the catalyst for the construction of Europe and even today remains entirely topical. It was this declaration, which 52 years ago sealed the peace between countries that had fough each other in two world wars.
The foundation of what is today the European Union, was initially a peace initiative. It paved the way for further developments in economic and social areas and the EU is today one of the key players of the global economy.
“Today, at the beginning of the third millennium, the European Union is preparing for a new phase of enlargement, which will determine its destiny along with that of the whole continent. There are 12 candidate countries, some of them already well advanced in their preparation to join the Union soon,” he noted.
Frowein said much has been achieved by today’s 15 EU member states. Twelve of the 15 now share a common currency, the euro, which became a physical reality on 1 January 2002, and most manage their economic and commercial interest within the framework of joint institutions. There is a real fusion of the interests of the European peoples, but much remains to be done. What they need to build now is a sense of common European citizenship.
Speaking on behalf of the Ghana Government, Mrs Grace Coleman, Deputy Minister of Finance thanked the EU for its continued assistance to Ghana and proposed a toast for continued partnership with the EU.
GRi…/
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