The Negotiating Process. The negotiations were formally launched on 30th September 1998, in accordance with article 366(3) of Xxxx XX bis. During the negotiations the ACP showed strong solidarity, despite its internal differences. Four negotiating groups were established; the Central Group, in charge of Political and Institutional Matters and co-ordination; Group 2 Private Sector, Investment and other Development Strategies; Group 3 Economic and Trade Co- operation and Group 4 considering Financial Co-operation. Three Ministerial Negotiation Conferences were held in Brussels on 29-30 July 1999, 7-8 December 1999 and 2-3 February 2000. The fundamental principles of the EC-ACP partnership, such as equality between the parties, respect for sovereignty, ownership of the strategies by the countries concerned and differentiation, were relative uncontroversial issues. However other topics proved more contentious. Both parties agreed to intensify the political dialogue so as to cover all areas of concern for the parties. In this context the essential elements of the partnership had to be agreed. Human rights, democracy and the rule of law were accepted, but the EU insisted on the inclusion of good governance which the ACP rejected because of its links with the non- execution clause8; for the EU the violation of one of the fundamental principles could entail the suspension of assistance. For the ACP it was necessary to ensure that no unilateral measures were undertaken by the EU under this clause without a consultation procedure in which political dialogue would be respected and the principles and procedures for these consultations clearly defined. They also considered that democracy and the rule of law already constituted good governance and that therefore there was no need to add a fourth essential element. It was not until the 7-8 December 1999 Brussels Ministerial Conference that agreement was reached. In this session “good governance” was defined as the transparent and responsible management of public resources for the purposes of equitable and sustainable development (this is now Article 9(3) of the new agreement). Good governance will not be considered an “essential” element but a “fundamental” which does not trigger the non-execution clause in itself, only in “serious cases of active and passive corruption”. Thus two procedures were adopted, one for consultation and adoption of measures in case of a violation of one of the essential elements (human rights, democracy and rule of law...
The Negotiating Process
