Initialing of the Second Revision of the Cotonou Agreement 23/04/2010

The Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and the 79 members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.  The Cotonou Agreement replaced the Lomé Convention, which had been the basis for ACP development cooperation since 1975.

The  Agreement, which is designed to last for a period of 20 years, provides for a revision clause after every five years.

The first revision was carried out in 2005, and focused on the political chapter of Cotonou.  The Revision prepared the ground for the 2007- 2013 financial framework of development assistance. 

The process of the Second Revision of the Cotonou Agreement was launched in February 2009 and finalized in March 2010.  It was officially initialed on 19 March 2010 at the EU Headquarters by the Special Joint ACP - EU Council of Ministers. The parties will append their signatures during the 35^th Session of the ACP-EU Council, to be held in June 2010 at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The revision offers opportunities for both parties, ACP and EU, to keep the Partnership updated, by taking into consideration the recent changes - political, social and economic - that have taken place over the last five years.  These include:

• growing importance of regional integration in ACP countries;
• global challenges, including MDGs, poverty reduction and climate change;
• new trade relationship, especially with the expiry of preferences.

Kenya’s membership of the ACP is one of the most significant economic external strategies, as the country enjoys a number of benefits, among them preferential market access to the EU - but currently through the Economic Partnership Agreement, and the development finance portfolio.