Luanda - The Republic of Angola attaches particular importance to the new partnership agreement between the European Union and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) for the next 20 years, signed this Thursday in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium.
According to a note, to which ANGOP had access this Friday, the legal instrument, in addition to being essential in cooperation with the different countries, is also important in the South-South and Intra / OACPS relations, within the framework of the Georgetown Agreement revised, approved at the Ninth Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in 2019 in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
This new partnership is important for Angola, as its entry into force will take place over the period in which it will assume the presidency of OACPS, which begins in 2022, with the holding of the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
The main negotiators, the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Integration of Togo, Robert Dussey, signed the formal conclusion of the negotiations for the Post-Cotonou Agreement, which establishes the framework for political, economic and sectoral cooperation.
On the occasion, Jutta Urpilainen said that this new and comprehensive partnership, with the largest group of partner countries, is an important political achievement and marks a turning point in line with the new international realities and challenges.
According to the European Commissioner, the agreement is important in strengthening the EU's bilateral relations with each OACPS and its respective regions, positioning the OACPS-EU partnership as a catalyst force, to promote common actions on the global stage.
On his turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Togo, Robert Dussey, said that the new agreement incorporates the ambitions of both parties, to renew the terms of their cooperation and reposition their partnership around new objectives, in a world that has changed profoundly and that is in constant transformation.
According to the OACPS chief negotiator, taking into account the concerns and expectations of the OACPS, the new agreement provides a solid basis for further strengthening the relationship with the EU.
This instrument substantially modernizes cooperation and broadens the scope and scale of the ambitions of the EU and the OACPS, to better address current and future challenges.
The partners increased their commitments in priority areas such as human rights, democracy and governance, peace and security, human development, which encompasses health, education and gender equality, as well as environmental sustainability, climate change, sustainable development and growth and migration and mobility, among others.
At the ceremony, which took place in a virtual format, Angola was represented by the Angolan ambassador to Belgium, Mário de Azevedo Constantino.
