ACP-EU: New partnership agreement signed in Samoa

Economic governance

Saturday, 18 November 2023 12:56

ACP-EU: New partnership agreement signed in Samoa

(Togo First) - The Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACP) and the European Union (EU) signed a new cooperation agreement last Thursday, Nov. 16. Inked in Apia, Samoa, the new deal defines the new global legal framework for relations between the two parties for the next 20 years. It substitutes the Cotonou agreements signed in 2000.

Finalement , c est fait. Après des mois de négociations, l’accord entre les Etats d Afrique des Caraïbes et des pacifiques et l Union Européenne appelé accord de Samoa qui succède à l’accord de cotonou est signé. Merci à tous et à toutes. Le processus a été laborieux et par… pic.twitter.com/l5Enb7Cteg
— Robert Dussey (@rdussey) November 16, 2023

Commenting on the milestone, Robert Dussey, Togo’s Minister of foreign affairs and Chief negotiator of the ACP countries said "After months of negotiations, the agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union, known as the Samoa Agreement, which succeeds the Cotonou Agreement, has been signed." "The process has been laborious and, at times, difficult, but what is essential and what matters in the end is that the agreement is reached. (...) Now, let's work for its ratification according to each of our legislations," Dussey added.

321kfw

Recall that the OACP negotiating mandate was handed over to Togo at the end of May 2018. The new agreement covers 79 countries (47 African countries, 16 Caribbean countries, and 15 Pacific countries, as well as the Republic of Maldives) and the European Union. In all, their population totals 1.5 billion people.

A paradigm shift

The agreement, which aims to strengthen the capacity of ACP and EU countries to address global challenges together, covers six priority areas in particular: democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility.

In the context of these negotiations, Robert Dussey recalled Africa's repeated calls for a "paradigm shift" in Europe-Africa relations, amidst major geopolitical changes in Africa and worldwide. "Africa is going through a deep transformation in a world that is itself changing, and Europe must take this new situation into account in its new relationship with Africa," Dussey declared.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.