The Courier Africa - Caribbean - Pacific - European Union No 162 - March-April 1997. Country reports Somalia Antigua and Barbuda Dossier The future of ACP-EU relations

ISSN 1013-7335
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Country reports
't\ Somalia
| Antigua and Barbuda
Dossier
The future of ACP­EU relations COUNTRY REPORTS
Antigua and Barbuda a and Barbuda is one
of the smallest ­ and most
prosperous countries in the
ACP Group, with an econo­
my based on tourism and,
increasingly, financial ser­
vices. It also has a
Westminster­style democracy.
Unfortunately, there is a
downside as well. The
macro­economic indicators
are worrying with a high
public debt, shaky revenue The Courier
collection and increasing Africa ­
state expenditure. The news­
Caribbean ­
papers are full of stories of
Pacific ­
corruption, while the country
European Union is reputed to be a haven for
drug traffickers and money­
launderers. Heavy depen­ Address:
dence on tourism means the Postal address DOSSIER economy is vulnerable to
(mail only) external factors, notably hur­
'The ACP­EU Courier' ricanes. And as if this were Green Paper on the future of
not enough, Barbuda, (popu­ Commission of
lation 1500) is unhappy with the European Communities ACP­EU relations
its 'poor brother' status and 200, rue de la Loi
contemplates going it alone. The world has changed a great deal since the 1049 Brussels
Pages 32 to 45 Fourth Lomé Convention was signed in 1989. The Belgium
old superpower rivalry has gone, the state is in
retreat and free market economics dominate the The Courier office
Somalia global agenda. In ACP­EU cooperation, thoughts address (visitors)
are now increasingly turning to what should hap­ In a departure from our Astrid Building
usual practice. The Courier pen when Lomé IV expires in less than five years' 1, rue de Genève
recently visited Somalia ­ one time. Most people accept that there need to be Evere ­ Brussels
of the few examples of a
Belgium changes ­ and probably significant ones ­ to take state without a government.
account of the new international setting. Should It would be wrong to under­
play the difficulties facing Publisher aid be increased, decreased or maintained at pre­
Philippe Soubestre this ruptured society. Schools sent levels? What sort of aid should it be? Can the
and hospitals have been Commission of the ACPs realistically expect the maintenance of prefer­
European Communities destroyed, social services
ential trading provisions in an increasingly liberal operate on a minimal level, 200, rue de la Loi
global trade system? How much emphasis should be and insecurity prevails in 1049­ BRUSSELS
placed on issues such as democracy, the rule of law many areas. There is still a (Belgium)
problem of malnutrition, Tel. 00­33­2­299 1111 and good governance? Will the ACP Group survive
while disease exacts a heavy in its present form? These are among the questions
toll. But, as we discovered, Director of Publications now being posed. there is another side to the Dominique David
story. There are whole
Towards the end of 1996, the Commission made its regions of this huge country Editor
which are at peace (the parts Simon Horner first, key contribution to the debate when it pub­
you never hear about in the lished a 'Green Paper on relations between the EU
news bulletins). And there Assistant editor and the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st centu­ are some remarkable exam­ Jeanne Remacle
ry.' In keeping with the spirit of this document, ples of economic dynamism
and social commitment. In which is intended to provoke the widest possible Associate assistant editor
short, there is a kind of discussion, we feature it in our Dossier and Meeting Hegel Goutier
'functioning anarchy' which
Point.
ensures that life can go on. Production Manager:
Pages 46 to 69 Dorothy Morrissey Pages 7 to 31
Journalist:
Debra Percival
Secretariat:
Carmela Peters
Fax: 299­30­02
Circulation:
Margriet Mahy­van der Werf
(299­30­12)
Cover page:
An unusual view of the Somali landscape,
^es- as seen from inside an EC­funded water tank
(Photo: The Courier) > ι ■
tag­The ACP­EU Courier No 162 ­ March­April 1997
editorial close­up
2. The Green Paper on relations between the EU and
72. Helping developing countries with scientific the ACP countries on the eve of the 21 st century:
literature Focusing on the options
73. Alleviating poverty and entrenching democracy in
Haiti
meeting point
3. Professor João de Deus Pinheiro,
developing world European Commissioner responsible for relations
with the ACPs and South Africa
75. Agricultural policy reform and prospects for African
exports
78. The Unistar programme
dossier 80 World Food Summit: a call for action
7. THE GREEN PAPER: Challenges and options
for a new partnership
18. Carl Greenidge, Deputy Secretary­General of
culture and society the ACP Group
23. Jan Pronk, Minister for International
82. Rich cultural pickings in Burkina Faso
Cooperation of The Netherlands
25. Professor Uwe Holtz
27. Joe Foroma, Confederation of Zimbabwe
Industries
eta bulletin 28. Economic integration and war on poverty
84. Africa signs up for fish farming
country reports
32. ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: Paradise troubled
cdi partnership
35. Interview with Minister of Trade,
Hilroy Humphreys 87. Dossier: Flower growing in East Africa
37. Rapid fire from the opposition 91. Increase in number of interventions during 1996
40. Two families, one history 92. Industrial partnerships
42. The ardent wish of 1500 people for independence 93. Venture capital funds
44. Profile 94. Ornamental stones
45 There is life after the beach
46. SOMALIA Can the jigsaw be pieced together?
95. THE COURIER'S MAILBAG
51 A thumb­nail sketch of the key players
96. BIBLIOGRAPHY 53. Profile
98. NEWS ROUND­UP 54. A Somali journey
58. City of surprises
62. A tale of two ports
64. Education and training needs and the EU response OPERATIONAL SUMMARY (BLUE PAGES)
67. Somalia­EU cooperation
ENDPIECE
a c ρ
Published in English and French, Writers of signed articles bear sole
70. Reforestation in Togo: Involving the rural responsibility for their contents. Reproduction authorised subject to
indication of origin. community
the Courier ne 162 ­ march­april 1997 ■Τ The Green Paper on relations between the EU and
the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st century
Focusing on the options
Another important area raised in the Green Paper is com­The Green Paper takes stock of the current con­
text of North/South cooperation and offers a re­ petitiveness and the role of the private sector. These
sponse to the changes brought about by the days, there is substantial agreement on the need for ACP
transformation of the international scene. It pin­ economies to increase their competitiveness on interna­
points divergences between different ACP coun­ tional markets, to promote the development of their pri­
tries, and stresses the need to enhance the im­ vate sectors, and to enhance their ability to attract
pact of aid, while reconciling efficiency vate investment from either inside or outside the
requirements with the need for beneficiary re­ country. This presupposes the creation, within the ACPs,
sponsibility. of conditions more favourable to an upturn in private ini­
tiative, the stabilisation of their macroeconomic environ­As the Lomé Convention approaches its
ment improved credibility of their economic policies, and full term (February 2000), and given that negotia­
the pursuit of economic and institutional reforms. tions with the ACP countries are due to begin in
autumn 1998, the Commission has decided to em­ The social dimension and poverty alleviation con­
bark on a wide-ranging discussion about changes tinue to be regarded as key areas of concern for the Eu­
to be introduced into EU-ACP relations on the eve
ropean Union. This covers not only health, education and
of the new millennium. training, but also food security and the integration of
In the words of Professor João de Deus Pinheiro, women into development efforts. In the wake of the un­
dertakings made at the Copenhagen Social Summit, 'so­the EU's Development Commissioner; The Green Paper
is, first and foremost an invitation to reflect, with no cial and human development' are more than ever on the
preconceived ideas or prejudices. We must find the agenda.
courage to call everything into question - everything Such guidelines should enable the Union to ex­
apart from our political commitment and solidarity vis-à- amine a more strategic approach and to ask itself, for ex­
vis the ACP countries'. ample, how far it can go in the policy dialogue and con-
ditionality, or whether it can commit itself to supporting A debate of this kind is necessary in order to <