Samoa Agreement signed by 106 countries including SVG

The European Union and its member states signed on Wednesday, a new partnership agreement with the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) that will serve as an overarching legal framework for their relations for the next 20 years.

This agreement succeeds the Cotonou Agreement and will be known as the “Samoa Agreement”. The agreement covers subjects such as sustainable development and growth, human rights and peace and security.

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) was represented at the signing ceremony in Samoa by SVG’s Ambassador to Taiwan Andrea Bowman and Minister Counsellor Elroy Wilson.

The denomination of the Agreement was agreed at the 46th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, which took place right before the signature ceremony, also in Samoa.

The new partnership agreement lays down common principles and covers the following priority areas: human rights, democracy and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; migration and mobility.

The agreement includes a common foundation, which applies to all parties, combined with three regional protocols for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific with a focus on the specific needs of each region.

The 27 EU member states and the 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries together represent around two billion people and more than half of the seats at the United Nations. With this new Agreement, the Parties will be better equipped to address emerging needs and global challenges, such as climate change, ocean governance, migration, health, peace and security.

The provisional application of the Agreement will start on January 1, 2024.

The Agreement will enter into force upon consent by the European Parliament and ratification by the Parties, i.e. all EU member states and at least two thirds of the OACPS members.