Development Council conclusions form a basis for future ACP agreements
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has taken note of the conclusions of the Council of the European Union on 14 and 15 May 2007 in the field of development policy. The ETUC notes that the Council has adopted conclusions laying down basic principles for reaching economic partnership agreements between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), to promote development.
The ETUC would like to highlight in particular:
the importance of regional integration in the six ACP regions concerned, a pre-requisite for fair trade with Europe;
confirmation of the EU’s commitment to partnership agreements that support sustainable development and reduce poverty;
support for the integration of social and environmental provisions in the partnership agreements, with a view to reducing poverty, improving living conditions and promoting sustainable development.
However, the ETUC would have liked the Council to recall the Petersberg communiqué of 13 March 2007 on European development policy, which identified decent work as the first step for getting out of poverty: “That is why European development policy supports the internationally agreed agenda on decent work for all, i.e. the worldwide implementation of core labour standards, the creation of more employment generating an adequate income, the provision of social protection, and the building of social dialogue between the main partners within a common strategic framework.” The ETUC urges the meeting of the joint Council of EU-ACP Ministers, to be held on 25 May, to reaffirm these steps forward.
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