THE HAGUE - The partnership agreement that the European Union is about to conclude with the members of the group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States will not apply to Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten. This is evident from the decision list of today's Council of Ministers:
Partnership Agreement between the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other hand (Post-Cotonou Agreement)
The relations between the European Union and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) are currently based on the Partnership Agreement (PA) between the members of the ACP Group and the European Community and its Member States, on the other hand, from 2000, also known as the Cotonou Agreement. This agreement is applicable until June 30, 2023.
From the EU's desire to intensify relations with the ACP Group, the chief negotiators reached a political agreement on December 3, 2020, and the text of the new Post-Cotonou Agreement was initialed on April 15, 2021. The new Post-Cotonou Agreement addresses various themes that are important from the perspective of the Netherlands, such as sustainable economic growth. This agreement facilitates closer cooperation in Dutch priority areas such as democracy, human rights, and climate change. Furthermore, the agreement provides concrete instruments to enhance dialogue on trade relations.
The signing of the Post-Cotonou Agreement by EU member states is scheduled for June 2023. Subsequently, signing on behalf of the EU and the ACP Group is planned. Pending its entry into force, the EU and ACP Group can apply the agreement provisionally to the extent that it falls within EU competence. Adopted. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will conclude the agreement. The council notes that the agreement will not apply to Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.