ACP states put their feet down
published: Wednesday | December 14, 2005

THE ACP are feeling increasingly marginalised and neglected, and are certainly more vocal than ever. I attended a G90 meeting in Brussels last week where they, clearly and unequivocally, emphasised the need for special and differential treatment for their small island, land-locked vulnerable countries. In Hong Kong, they will argue for better market access and for a recognition that their share of international trade is so small, in most cases, as to be irrelevant.

The ACP need proof now that development truly is at the forefront of negotiators' minds and they are asking where are the commitments made in Doha? They want actions to match the fine language on sustainable development, governance and social cohesion. We face a watershed in Europe's relationship with the ACP and I believe that they will carry their grievances to Hong Kong and use their solidarity with each other to bargain inside the G90 Group of countries and with other developing countries. They did this to good effect in Doha and in Cancun. That is why for the Agriculture Commissioner Fischer Boel to argue that the proposals for the sugar reform will strengthen Europe's hand in Hong Kong is naïve to say the least.

In the year of Make Poverty History, we should be ensuring that for so many developing countries we don't make poverty the future.

- G.K.