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   Summary III - 1 - (03/09-15/09)


FOLLOWING IS A MACHINE TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH. IT HAS BEEN EDITED FOR MISTRANSLATION ONLY. THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH IS AVAILABLE ON THIS WEB SITE AT: <http://www.ue-acp.org/fr/forum/syntheses/syntIII1.html>

KEY WORDS: PLACE OF PUBLIC DEBATE; EUROPEAN AID REFORM

** Title: SUMMARY III.1 (3 - 15 Sept.) **

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

°°° Abstract:
The EU-ACP forum reopens its doors for a discussion on the reforms of the European foreign aid around three topics (improvement of priorities and strategies of cooperation; complementarity among European donors; decentralization of the management of actions of cooperation). Following the previous discussion (phase 1 and phase 2) on the creation of a European aid watch, it opens according to a configuration a bit different. The public debating forum opens up to new continents and new partners. New participants join the forum. °°°

1. Opening of discussions on reforms of the European cooperation

After a long summer period, the electronic forum has reopened its doors. Jean Bossuyt [ECDPM <http://www.ecdpm.org/>] and Pierre Calame [FPH <http://www.fph.fr/fph.html> in French only] explain the reasons of this new phase [for a retrospective on the previous phase see message of June 6 00: [LOME] EU-ACP Forum restrospective <http://www.ue-acp.org/en/forum/archives/2000-05/msg00016.html>].

This public debating forum makes possible to give to all the possibility to speak.

The previous discussion phases (phases 1 and 2) showed that with the suitable tools (data bases of experiences, linked information, translation) the construction of such a place was possible (with in certain countries the birth of local circles of discussion).

This place of discussion must be independent and neutral. Its organization should be designed in this aim, around a network of several families of actors sharing the objective to contribute to the improvement of the quality and the relevance of cooperation relations between Europe and its partners. It starts with this bringing together between the FPH and ECDPM, Oneworld and Euforic, as explained by Louk Box in his message. It must be open to the South.

The European cooperation is in deep mutation (internal cooperation reforms of the Commission and certain Member States, new agreements of partnership, budgetary modifications). The public debating forum opens up to the discussion by proposing a survey of the reforms of "European foreign aid", which concerns the ACP countries, as well as those of Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean, and certain countries of Europe of the East. A background paper is available at <http://www.ue-acp.org/en/documents/background.html>.

This 3rd phase of discussion will last two months. It is managed by ECDPM. Results will be transmitted to the Council of Ministers of the November EU. Participants highlight the challenges and difficulties of such a discussion: How to make it so that expectations of the field are really taken in account in the political texts, methods of projects (Françoise Mulfinger)? Is it possible, and how, to discuss the internal institutional reorganization of the Commission and how to inform leaders of countries of the South so that they participate in discussions (participants at the seminar of Maastricht)?

The three topics proposed for discussions are the following:

  • Improvement of the definition of priorities of cooperation (Topic 1: STRATEGIES)
  • Complementarity between policies of cooperation of Members States and the European Commission (Topic 2: COMPLEMENTARITY)
  • The bringing together of the implementation of cooperation in the partner countries by backing the role of Delegations (Topic 3: DECENTRALIZATION).

These topics must be specified during discussions. The search for complementarity is linked to the question of the untying of aid, for example (message from Madeleine Ngo Louga).

2. Welcome to the new participants

During this period, an operation of contact and information has been conducted to sensitize new participants (trying to hold account of findings and demands done by participants at the time of the previous phases).

Last week, 67 new participants were subscribed, 12 of which introduced themselves to the forum. Other introductions are waiting for publication on the forum. The newly sibscribed persons belong to the public administrations or the private institutions of Europe and the South (European Commission, government), to NGOs, to the private sector, or are students. Some are members of paltforms(business EU-ACP forum).

We remind you that subscription makes it possible to receive messages. Before participating in discussions, we thank the subscribed participants to introduce themselves. For subscribed persons who hesitate to intervene for reasons of confidentiality don't hesitate to contact <moderation@ue-acp.org>.

The Web site <http://www.ue-acp.org> has also been put up to date. You can consult background papers there (see above), as well as on the Web site <http://www.oneworld.net/thinktank/eucoop/eureform.htm> (in English) <http://www.monduni.net/thinktank/eucoop/eureform.htm> (in French)

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       INFO
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Opening of a Forum on the social use of the new technologies of information in Africa: Following discussions of last December on this forum, the Forum Coordination transmits an invitation to participate in the AFTIDEV forum to exchange on your points of view, your knowledge and to formulate proposals on the topic of the "people's empowerment and the transfer of technologies of information and the communication in Africa".




Anne SIMON
Forum Coordination <moderation@ue-acp.org>
<http://www.ue-acp.org/en/forum/participants.html>



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