Date: 2020-01-03Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision No 3/2019 of the ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors of 17 December 2019 to adopt transitional measures pursuant to Article 95(4) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement [2020/2]
Executive Summary:
This decision, adopted by the ACPEU Committee of Ambassadors on December 17, 2019, extends the application of the ACPEU Partnership Agreement beyond its original expiry date of February 29, 2020. This extension is a transitional measure implemented because negotiations for a new ACPEU Partnership Agreement are ongoing. The provisions of the current agreement will now apply until December 31, 2020, or until the new agreement comes into force or is provisionally applied, whichever occurs first. The decision enters into force on March 1, 2020.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Extension of ACPEU Partnership Agreement:**
* The application of the ACPEU Partnership Agreement is extended.
* The agreement is extended until December 31, 2020, or until the new agreement comes into force.
* The extension also applies until the provisional application of the new agreement between the Union and ACP States.
* **Legal Basis and Context:**
* The decision is made pursuant to Article 954 of the ACPEU Partnership Agreement.
* Negotiations for a new ACPEU Partnership Agreement were launched in September 2018.
* The ACPEU Council of Ministers delegated powers to adopt transitional measures to the ACPEU Committee of Ambassadors on May 23, 2019.
* **Purpose of the Extension:**
* The extension aims to maintain continuity in relations between the Union and its Member States and the ACP States.
* The transitional measures are not intended to amend the ACPEU Partnership Agreement.
* **Effective Date:**
* The decision enters into force on March 1, 2020.
Impact Analysis:
* **African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP):**
* *Impact:* Ensures continued partnership and cooperation with the European Union under the existing framework while awaiting the new agreement.
* *Action Required:* Continue to abide by the provisions of the ACPEU Partnership Agreement until the new agreement is implemented or until December 31, 2020.
* **European Union and its Member States:**
* *Impact:* Maintains ongoing relations with the ACP States, ensuring continued cooperation and development initiatives.
* *Action Required:* Continue to apply the provisions of the ACPEU Partnership Agreement until the new agreement is implemented or until December 31, 2020. Ensure all relevant bodies are aware of the extension.
Key Entities Referenced
ACPEU Committee of Ambassadors: The committee responsible for adopting transitional measures related to the ACPEU Partnership Agreement.
ACPEU Partnership Agreement: A partnership agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and the European Community and its Member States.
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States: A group of states party to the ACPEU Partnership Agreement.
European Community: A party to the ACPEU Partnership Agreement.
ACPEU Council of Ministers: The council that delegated powers to the ACPEU Committee of Ambassadors regarding transitional measures.
Brussels: The city where the decision was made.
Marja RISLAKKI: The President of the ACPEU Committee of Ambassadors.
Luxembourg: The city where the ACPEU Partnership Agreement was amended.
3.1.2020 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 001/3
DECISION No 3/2019 OF THE ACP-EU COMMITTEE OF AMBASSADORS
of 17 December 2019
to adopt transitional measures pursuant to Article 95(4) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement
[2020/2]
THE ACP-EU COMMITTEE OF AMBASSADORS,
Having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of
the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000
(1), and in particular Article 15(4) and Article 16(2) in conjunction with Article 95(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (‘ACP’) of
the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on
23 June 2000 (the ‘ACP-EU Partnership Agreement’) entered into force on 1 April 2003 and is to be applied until
29 February 2020.
(2) In accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 95(4) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, negotiations
towards a new ACP-EU Partnership Agreement (the ‘new Agreement’) were launched in September 2018. As the
new Agreement will not be ready to be applied by the expiry date of the current legal framework, it is necessary to
adopt transitional measures to extend the application of the provisions of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.
(3) The second subparagraph of Article 95(4) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement provides for the ACP-EU Council of
Ministers to adopt any transitional measures that may be required until the new Agreement comes into force.
(4) Pursuant to Article 15(4) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, on 23 May 2019 the ACP-EU Council of Ministers
delegated the powers to adopt the transitional measures to the ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors (2).
(5) It is therefore appropriate that the ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors adopt a decision, pursuant to Article 95(4) of
the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, to extend the application of the provisions of the ACP-EU Partnership
Agreement until 31 December 2020, or until the entry into force of the new Agreement or the provisional
application between the Union and the ACP States of the new Agreement, whichever comes first.
(6) The provisions of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement will be applied with the aim of maintaining continuity in
relations between the Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the ACP States, on the other. Accordingly,
the transitional measures are not intended for amendments to the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement as provided for in
Article 95(3) thereof,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The application of the provisions of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement shall be extended until 31 December 2020, or
until the entry into force of the new Agreement or until the provisional application between the Union and the ACP States
of the new Agreement, whichever comes first.
(1) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3. The ACP-EU Partnership Agreement was amended by the Agreement signed in Luxembourg on
25 June 2005 (OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 27) and by the Agreement signed in Ouagadougou on 22 June 2010 (OJ L 287, 4.11.2010, p. 3).
(2) Decision No 1/2019 of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers of 23 May 2019 on the delegation of powers to the ACP-EU Committee of
Ambassadors on the decision to adopt transitional measures pursuant to Article 95(4) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement
[2019/920] (OJ L 146, 5.6.2019, p. 114).L 001/4 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 3.1.2020
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on 1 March 2020.
Done at Brussels, 17 December 2019.
For the ACP-EU Council of Ministers
By the ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors
The President
Marja RISLAKKI