1 REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN REPUBLIC OF BENIN Speech of the Head of State, at the Opening Ceremony of the Eminent Personalities Regional Consultations Panel on the Future of ACP Group Cotonou, 15 January, 2014 ***--***---***
2 Your Excellency, Mr. Olusegun OBASSANJO, Chairman of the ACP Eminent Personalities on the Future of ACP Group, Honourable Elder, Honourable Chairmen of Republican Institutions, Honourable Members of Government, Honourable Members of Parliament, Honourable Secretary-General of the ACP Group, Honourable Heads of Diplomatic and Consular Missions and Representatives of International Organisations, Honourable Eminent Personalities of the Panel, Dear Participants, Distinguished Guests, Thirteen years after the Cotonou Agreement on the ACP-EU Partnership was signed, namely on 12 June, 2000, my country, Benin, is honoured with the privilege of hosting, once more, on this very day, 15 January, 2014, the Regional Consultations of Eminent Personalities Panel on the Future of the Group in West Africa. You would certainly understand why the People of Benin and the Government are so delighted to host this important gathering. Therefore, on behalf of the Country, I would like to extend my warm and brotherly
3 welcome to you all, while wishing you a happy stay in the hospitable land of Benin, a country that is fully committed to the strengthening and consolidation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of which it is proud to be a member. May I devote a special salute and hearty thanks to my Elder, His Excellency, Mr. Olusegun OBASSANJO, and Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a worthy son of Africa, for his active and relentless contribution to the stability, security, peace, unity and solidarity, which are essential for the continent s development. This is the right occasion to congratulate him and renew our gratitude for having accepted to lead this Panel. I wish him full success in the fulfillment of his mission. Similarly, I extend my hearty greetings and congratulations to all the Eminent Personalities, as well as to Delegates in attendance at this important consultation confab which, I m personally convinced, will enhance West African Region s commitment to the noble ideals and values of the ACP Group. The current consultations are taking place at a crucial and decisive time for our Group and its future. In fact, as you are all aware, far reaching political, economic, social and environmental changes have been taking place worldwide for the past few years. These changes induce, in our States and regions, many challenges requiring our keen attention and bold actions in order to reposition our organisation within this new setting.
4 In this vein, the ACP Group has already embarked upon an extensive reflection on its future perspectives beyond 2020. Therefore, our Regional Consultations offer opportunities to formulate recommendations and strategic orientations on the future of the ACP Group. The Eminent Personalities Group was set up for this purpose and conduct relevant think-tank sessions. In this connection, I m happy with the pertinent and encouraging conclusions that stemmed from the consultations that have already taken place in the Pacific and Caribbean Regions, in Samoa and Grenada. Considering the different themes listed on the agenda, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the future of our common organisation, on the basis of an objective and retrospective analysis. Needless to say, today, ACP Group constitutes the largest intergovernmental and trans-regional organisation of developing countries, consisting of eighty (80) Southern States which are bound by historical and cultural links, guided by the love of solidarity. This numerical strength of the Group and its diversity should constitute a precious asset and a political force to be reckoned with on the international scene, considering the challenges of development. These factors, amongst others, have transformed the Group into a worthy and negotiating partner of the European Union since the advent of the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
5 As can be observed, relations between the ACP Group and the European Union are quite old now, while many observers consider them as a model of the largest, most structured and efficient North-South Partnership, based on historical ties, shared values such as democracy, respect of human rights, rule of law, good governance, political dialogue and mutual obligations towards a responsible development endeavour. However, despite these advantages, one is compelled to admit that most of the ACP States are classified within the category of the least advanced countries of the earth, while accounting just for 2% of the World Gross Domestic Product, against European Union s quota of 28% and China s 7%. Although their level of development and integration into the global economic system, they are generally characterised by a high level of vulnerability, economy-wise. It should also be mentioned that many of these countries are currently in a post-conflict situation. As a result, meaningful poverty alleviation and eradication, as well as the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, constitute major concerns for our States. ACP-EU Relations have today reached a decisive turning point. The 2009 Lisbon Treaty which has now become effective, notably the absence of specific reference to the ACP Group therein, and the extension of the Union to countries that have no historic affinities with the ACP States, constitute major factors and facts that should motivate us into action.
6 The ACP Group has been evolving for some years now, but largely with uncertainty as regards the future of its partnership with the European Union. Today, there are several factors that militate in favour of the European partner s desire for change and reshaping with regard to its relations with the Group. Consequently, we should also be able to carry out far reaching changes within our Group, with due regard to our collective responsibility, in accordance with spirit and letter of the Georgetown Agreement of 1975. This is the time for us to assess the achievements of our Group as an international body made up of eighty (80) States and Nations belonging to the Southern hemisphere. What have we done with our numerical strength? Is really there, today, an ACP-based movement or identity that is shared by all the components thereof, anchored on common values and objectives? With its present status, is ACP Group still relevant today? Is there any real partnership within ACP that is backed by links, institutions and exchanges based on economic, cultural, scientific and technological levels, with a view to promoting a genuine South-South cooperation drive between the different entities and regions of the ACP geographical space?
7 Answers to these various questions should enable us shape the course of our reflections during the three (03) days of proceedings, with a view to formulating concrete and realistic proposals towards shaping our future, based on a destiny that is common to the African, Caribbean and Pacific People. The 7 th Summit Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of ACP Group, which took place in Malabo in December 2013, laid the bases for the rebirth and transformation of our common organisation. The ultimate goal of the pertinent recommendations of the summit was to enable ACP countries to meet the key challenges facing them, namely: peace and security, climate change, food security, energy, promotion of the private sector and industrial development which is the creator of value added. Furthermore, the rebirth and transformation of our common organisation attract the following questions. What could be the bases of a new-type organisation that is capable of maintaining a sound cooperation with the European Union towards a stronger strategic partnership that is mutually beneficial? Would the ACP Group have the will and capacity to survive after 2020, if the European Union unilaterally decides to put an end to its cooperation with it? Are we prepared to assume higher and weightier
8 financial responsibilities towards the progressive ownership of our organisation? If the European Union decides to maintain the status quo with ACP after 2020, what would be the Group s assets or situations that would, today, militate in favor of such a decision? How could the ACP Group make itself more attractive and more useful to the European Union, with a view to achieving an enhanced strategic partnership in a fast-changing world with increasingly new challenges? What are the changes that ACP Group should allow in order to attract new partners other than the European Union, in its fight against poverty, bad governance, insecurity and political instability? The future of our Group and its relationship with the European Union will depend on the answers that we shall provide to these questions which can be summarised into four (04) points : The Group s status beyond 2020; The nature of its future relationship with the European Union; and
9 The institutional foundations of the relationship that should exist between the Members of the Group, in strict sense; What are the perspectives for cooperation with other partners? Here and now is the place and time to laud the drafting,, by the Secretariat, of a strategy towards the renewal and transformation of the ACP Group by 2014. This strategy aims at an overall administrative restructuring and repositioning of the Group, with a view to enhancing its impact and improving the results of its actions. I seize this opportunity to congratulate our brother, Alhaji Muhammad MUMUNI, ACP Secretary-General, as well as his predecessor, our brother and friend, Dr. Mohamed Ibn CHAMBAS, both of whom are here in attendance to provide their constant and qualitative inputs in order to instill in our Group a new impulsion and impetus into this rebirth endeavour. The said restructuring drive, which West Africa and my country, Benin, adhere to, provides for several actions to be conducted, namely: The reinforcement of the Secretariat through its human, institutional, financial and operational capacities; Acquiring a new building to accommodate the Group s Headquarters in Brussels; Improving the Group s visibility through communication activities towards the public at large, and participating more impressively in international confabs ; Creating an ACP Investment Bank; Progressively setting up a free trade zone;
10 Reviewing legal instruments underlying the existence of the Group as an international organisation, including the Georgetown Agreement. These key and determining ideas should serve to mould our future and constitute a source of inspiration to chart new orientations that will culminate in the consultations of Cotonou for West Africa. Our determination to transform our Group and build more solidarity therein, with increased efficiency, requires sustained political will that is anchored on a higher commitment to the paramount interest of our People. It also requires appropriation of its ideals and objectives by Member States. We must seek to strengthen and reaffirm our unity and solidarity to ensure a far-reaching reputation and better visibility within the comity of nations and major trans-continental bodies. We have a huge responsibility to shoulder, with great expectations in view. But, I am still convinced that, with the determination and goodwill of all of us, we shall succeed in putting this organisation, a treasured possession of our People and Region, back on its feet, thereby making it more efficient and operational to meet their legitimate aspirations.
11 I wish to assure you that my country, Benin, through its various national institutions, will support, with due commitment and firm determination, this endeavour of capacity-building and transformation of the ACP Group towards a more result-oriented cooperation with the European Union, on the one hand, and increased cooperation between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States, on the other hand. So far, and unfortunately so, this kind of cooperation between ACP Member States has remained at the starting point despite the existence of the Georgetown Agreement which, nonetheless, offered relevant opportunity and institutional framework. ACP Group must resolutely commit itself to South-South cooperation drive to promote ties between the People who share a common historical and cultural heritage. In fact, our culture should be the foundation of our unity and solidarity, in order for us to stay together and stronger, in the face of new and emerging challenges. There is no doubt that, irrespective of political or economic consideration, the future of our Group, its solidity, self-orientation capacity and ability to take into consideration the core interests of our populaces, largely depend on the revival and strengthening of such an horizontal cooperation. However, the said South-South cooperation should not be understood as a systematic substitute to North-South cooperation which is characterised by an important flow of public aid to development. Actually, the partnership between ACP Countries and European Union constitute an original model of partnership with worldwide acclaim.
12 That is why, I am heartily calling for the continuation of this partnership with the European Union beyond 2020, upon new bases. On behalf of the People and Government of Benin, I hereby express the earnest wish to welcome you again, here in Cotonou, in 2020, on the occasion of signing what could be entitled Cotonou Agreement II, which would then herald a new take-off. 2014 will open the door to new perspectives for ACP Group. In this respect, I am fully convinced that the forthcoming Summit of Heads of State and Governments of ACP Countries that will take place this year in the Caribbean Region, will instill into our organisation, a new impetus. For our various countries, West African Region and all of you in attendance at this gathering may this year represent a year of peace and prosperity. Thereupon, I declare open the Regional Consultations for West Africa of the Panel of Eminent Personalities on the Future of our Group. Long Live ACP Group! I wish you successful proceedings.