[LOME] Summary 7 (3-9 July)

[Anne SIMON <moderation@ue-acp.org>]

FOLLOWING IS A MACHINE TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH. IT HAS BEEN
EDITED FOR MISTRANSLATION ONLY. THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH IS FOUND FOLLOWING,
FOR REFERENCE.

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KEY WORDS: PROGRESS OF THE DEBATE  
  
** Title: Weekly Summary N° 7 (3-9 July) **  
  
By: Anne SIMON <anne.simon@skynet.be>  
 <http://www.ue-acp.org/en/forum/presentations/simon.html>  
  
°°° Abstract:   
- The interest of this forum for a European parliamentarian rests on the
democratization of methods of the partnership and feedback from the ACP
countries. The renovation of cooperation should target, more than
renovations of political principles, precise lines of procedures.   
- The forum should concentrate more on actors of cooperation. Today the
forms of mediation lead the European cooperation into a logic of "
incomplete cooperation" as to the choice of its partners. It would be
necessary to put more accent on the decentralized cooperation.   
- The current dissymmetry is the result of a historic evolution.   
- Proposal of definition of criteria defining cases of " good governance ".
°°°  
  
   
1. Expectations of a European MP as for the forum  
  
The Chair of the Committee for Cooperation and Development of the European
Parliament, Michel Rocard, explain reasons of his interest for this forum.
This forum makes possible to hear the voice of those that lives cooperation
daily in the ACP countries, while the Convention ACP-EU is being
renegotiated. It is also a new way to experience concretely the renovation
of methods of the partnership.  
  
Following the seminar to which he participated, he appraises that the
current dysfunctioning of cooperation can be adjusted solely by new
orientations and principles but also by adaptations of procedures. It would
be necessary that the European institutions work in this sense. As European
parliamentarian, he intends to encourage a revision of forms of financial
control, to develop "a learning cooperation" and to develop the dialogue
between actors and institutions.  
  
 2. An incomplete cooperation logic as for the choice of partners?  
  
Desire Aidou wishes that this forum is interested in actors of cooperation
and the position to give to them. It is done with one of the new topics of
this month 
- 3.6: to " put actors at the heart of cooperation ". 
He recognizes that concepts of decentralization, of governance, extensively
discussed in this forum (see monthly summary 1), are recognized by the
European cooperation.  
  
But he notes that programs of cooperation don't succeed in implementing
them. To it he gives several explanations: the lack of information on the
European cooperation that goes beyond the " EDF "; the form of action and
interests of actors who implement programs of cooperation (institutional
actors, European and African NGOs).  
  
Nonprofit organizations and NGOs become necessary as the obligated
cooperation interlocutors. This form of cooperation from the top, doesn't
make possible that " the local population is at the center of the affairs
of society ", and therefore the socioeconomic development of countries. In
recognizing the logic of the mediation of the state, he proposes to develop
 "decentralized cooperation". Failing this, the European cooperation will
remain in a "logic of incomplete cooperation as for the choice of its
partners".  
  
In the more overall framework of the ACP partnership, Ibrahim Faria comes
back on the dissymmetry (reinforced by the low importance of ACP countries
in European trade with developing countries) and on the question of
political responsibility. He adds a historic dimension on the disappearance
of the spirit of LOME I.  
  
 3. Search for identification of good governance criteria  
  
Basing himself on the definition of  governance by Pierre Calame,
"governance is the human society's capacity to endow itself with
representation systems to manage itself in a voluntary movement", Michel
Ansay proposes a non exhaustive list of criteria that define what is a case
of " good governance ". He proposes to exchange experiences of this type or
case reports. In conclusion, is this freedom of choice that ensues from
this definition compatible with the world organization of society (of
trade)?  
  

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ORIGINAL IN FRENCH:
------------------------------

MOTS-CLES : DEROULEMENT DU DEBAT

** Titre : Synthese hebdomadaire n°7 (03/07-9/07) **

par : Anne SIMON <anne.simon@skynet.be>
<http://www.ue-acp.org/fr/forum/presentations/simon.html> 

°°° Resume : - L'interet de ce forum pour un parlementaire europeen repose
sur la democratisation des modalites du partenariat et un retour des pays
ACP. La renovation de la cooperation devrait cibler, plus que des
renovations de principes politiques, des axes precis de procedures. - Le
forum devrait se concentrer plus sur les acteurs de la cooperation.
Aujourd'hui les modes d'intermediation conduisent la cooperation europeenne
dans une logique de " cooperation inachevee " quant au choix de ses
partenaires. Il faudrait mettre plus d'accent sur la cooperation
decentralisee. - La dyssimetrie actuelle est le resultat d'une evolution
historique. - Proposition de definition de criteres definissant des cas de
" bonne gouvernance ". °°°


1. Attentes d'un depute europeen quant au forum

Le President de la Commission cooperation et developpement du Parlement
europeen, Michel Rocard, explique les raisons de son interet pour ce forum.
Ce forum permet d'entendre la voix de ceux qui vivent la cooperation
quotidiennement dans les pays ACP, alors qu'est renegociee la Convention
ACP-UE. C'est aussi une nouvelle facon de faire vivre concretement la
renovation des modalites du partenariat ". 

A la suite du seminaire auquel il a participe, il estime que les
dysfonctionnements actuels de la cooperation ne peuvent etre regles
uniquement par de nouvelles orientations et des principes mais aussi par
des adaptations des procedures. Il faudrait que les institutions
europeennes œuvrent dans ce sens. En tant que parlementaire europeen, il se
propose de favoriser une revision des modes de controle financiers, de
developper " une cooperation apprenante " et de developper le dialogue
entre acteurs et institutions.


2. Une logique de cooperation inachevee quant au choix des partenaires ?

Desire Aidou souhaite que ce forum s'interesse aux acteurs de la
cooperation et de la place a leur donner. C'est chose faite avec l'un des
nouveaux themes de ce mois-ci - 3.6 : " mettre les acteurs au cœur de la
cooperation ". Il reconnait que les concepts de decentralisation, de
gouvernance, largement debattus dans ce forum (voir synthese mensuelle 1),
sont reconnus par la cooperation europeenne. 

Mais il constate que les programmes de cooperation ne reussissent pas a les
mettre en œuvre. A cela il donne plusieurs explications : le manque
d'information sur la cooperation europeenne qui depasse le " FED " ; le
mode d'action et les interets des acteurs qui mettent en œuvre les
programmes de cooperation (acteurs institutionnels, ONG europeennes et
africaines). 

Les associations et les ONG s'imposent comme interlocuteurs obliges de la
cooperation. Ce mode de cooperation par le haut, ne permet pas que " la
population locale soit au centre des affaires de la societe ", et donc le
developpement socio-economique des pays. En reconnaissant la logique de
l'intermediation de l'Etat, il propose de developper la " cooperation
decentralisee ". Sans cela, la cooperation europeenne restera dans une "
logique de cooperation inachevee quant au choix de ses partenaires ".

Dans le cadre plus global du partenariat ACP, Ibrahim Faria revient sur la
dyssimetrie (renforcee par la faible importance des pays ACP dans les
echanges commerciaux europeens avec les PVD) et sur la question des
responsabilites politiques. Il ajoute une dimension historique sur la
disparition de l'esprit de LOME I.


3. Recherche d'identification de criteres de bonne gouvernance

Se basant sur la definition de la gouvernance de Pierre Calame, " la
gouvernance, c'est la capacite des societes humaines a se doter de systemes
de representation pour se gerer elles-meme dans un mouvement volontaire " -
Michel Ansay propose une liste de criteres non exhaustifs qui cernent ce
qu'est un cas de " bonne gouvernance ". Il propose d'echanger des
experiences de ce type ou des fiches de cas. En conclusion, cette liberte
de choix qui decoule de cette definition est-elle compatible avec
l'organisation mondiale de la societe (du commerce ?).