IOE highlights the importance of partnership dialogue in the new EU-OACPS agreement (post-Cotonou agreement)

IOE participates in the hearing of the European Economic and Social Council working group to review the role of organised civil society in the new EU-OACPS agreement.

As the largest network of the private sector in the world, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) was invited by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to speak about the important role that civil society and social partners have to play in the new European Union-Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific agreement (EU-OACPS).

IOE highlighted the key role of partnership dialogue as a cornerstone of good governance of the EU-OACPS agreement and for guiding relations and activities amongst all stakeholders. IOE commended the new agreement for making provisions for social and civil dialogue, however,  IOE expressed concern that while partnership dialogue is mentioned, it is not formalised within the agreement. It is crucial to include and formalise dialogue whereby the voices of all actors are included.  

IOE also advocated for the inclusion of regional employer bodies, such as the Caribbean Employers' Confederation, BUSINESSAfrica Employers Confederation, and the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization in future institutional mechanisms, with a view to including them in capacity building and collaboration efforts.

On the future of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), IOE emphasised the importance of including informality as a cross-cutting issue within EPAs, especially in view of the high levels of informality in many countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. It is in the informal economy where decent work deficits and human rights risks are the highest and must be effectively managed if the EU-OACPS agreement is to be successfully implemented.

IOE members from African, Caribbean, and Pacific States are encouraged to review their respective regional protocols and engage with their respective governments to closely monitor linkages and implementation.

Background

In June 2000, the European Union along with African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) signed the 20-year Cotonou agreement, which superseded the previous 1975 Lomé convention. The Cotonou agreement officially ended in 2020 but was extended until 2021 due to the COVID crisis. 

Since the start of negotiations for a post-Cotonou agreement in 2018, that will replace the Cotonou agreement for the next 20 years, IOE has been nominating its members from African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries to participate as private sector representatives within these negotiations as part of the ACP-EU Follow-Up Committee . Countries from ACP States work together through the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).

The post-Cotonou agreement was initialled in 2021 and is now undergoing a signature and ratification process, which means no further fundamental changes will be made to this binding legal framework agreement between 79 Members of OACP States and 27 EU Member States. The post-Cotonou agreement is not a trade agreement. Trade matters between the EU and ACP States are covered separately by EPAs.