45th ACP-EU Council of Ministers, 29 november 2022, Brussel
| datum | 29 november 2022 |
|---|---|
| plaats | Brussel, België |
Infographic - EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
Main results
In its first meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic, the 45th African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) - EU Council of Ministers took place on 29 November to exchange views on the many issues of importance for the Partnership.
Ministers discussed the current geopolitical context, including the food and energy crises, which hit especially hard vulnerable countries, many of them OACPS members. The EU side used this opportunity to share its perspective on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and strongly condemn the attacks, which caused infrastructure devastation and losses of civilian lives. The EU and its Member States also expressed a commitment to work with OACPS partners to overcome the global consequences of this war of aggression by continuous support to affected OACPS countries.
Ministers also talked about the new EU-OACPS Partnership Agreement (post-Cotonou) to prepare for its signature.
Under the topic of the implementation of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, they also focussed on trade, economic and financial cooperation, as well as on non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes and fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
In the current geopolitical context, cooperation between the EU and the ACP states is vital. We need to share objective information in the light of Russian propaganda and misery the war brings to many African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Today’s discussions demonstrated the ongoing solidarity between our regions and our willingness to work together towards a sustainable global future.
Jiří Kozák, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia
Ministers also exchanged views on the EU's Global Gateway Strategy, its relevance for the OACPS and the implementation of NDICI-Global Europe.
Under the item on EU-OACPS cooperation in international fora, Ministers set a follow-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) and agreed on continuing collaboration during the upcoming United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15).
The meeting was co-chaired on the EU side by Mr. Jiří Kozák, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Czechia, and on the OACPS side by H. E. Dr Amery Browne, Minister for Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, as current OACPS Chair.