Portugal was the only EU member state asked to comment during a meeting in Brussels of the panel on future relations between the EU and countries in the so-called ACP group. The term of the current deal ends in 2020,
The Cotonou Accord, which covers 106 countries - mainly former colonies of EU member states - is aimed at reducing poverty with a view to its eradication, by supporting sustainable economic and social development of the ACP countries, as they are known, and facilitate their gradual integration into the global economy.
“Our interest is in having an accord that makes for continuity with what we’ve already had, maintaining the essential traits, such as its binding nature and the political dialogue, but on the other hand adapted to new realities,” the secretary of state, Teresa Ribeiro, told Lusa News Agency.
Portugal is calling for the regionalisation of the different ‘pillars’, proposing that a generic accord be drawn up and then, by region, different approaches be worked out.