![ACP EPA Groups](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/ACP_EPA_Groups.svg)
The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is a group of
countries
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state (polity), state, nation, or other polity, political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, so ...
in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
, the
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
, and the
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
that was created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. Formerly known as African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), the organisation's main objectives are sustainable development and
poverty reduction
Poverty reduction, poverty relief, or poverty alleviation, is a set of measures, both economic and humanitarian, that are intended to permanently lift people out of poverty.
Measures, like those promoted by Henry George in his economics clas ...
within its member states, as well as their greater integration into the world's economy. All of the member states, except
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
, are signatories to the
Cotonou Agreement
The Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States ("ACP countries"). It was signed in June 2000 in Cotonou, Benin's largest city, by 78 ACP countries (Cuba did not sign) and the ...
with the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
.
The
Cotonou Agreement
The Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States ("ACP countries"). It was signed in June 2000 in Cotonou, Benin's largest city, by 78 ACP countries (Cuba did not sign) and the ...
(signed in
Cotonou
Cotonou (; fon, Kútɔ̀nú) is a city in Benin. Its official population count was 679,012 inhabitants in 2012; however, over two million people live in the larger urban area.
The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The ci ...
,
Benin
Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...
, in June 2000) is the successor to the
Lomé Convention
The Lomé Convention is a trade and aid agreement between the European Economic Community (EEC) and 71 African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries, first signed in February 1975 in Lomé, Togo.
History
The first Lomé Convention (Lomé I) ...
s. One of the major differences from the Lomé Convention is that the partnership is extended to new actors such as civil society, private sector, trade unions and local authorities. These will be involved in consultations and planning of national development strategies, provided with access to financial resources and involved in the implementation of programmes.
Many small island developing states are OACPS states; the fourth Lomé Convention was revised in 1995 in
Mauritius
Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...
and gives special attention to island countries in this agreement. Combined the EU and the members of the OACPS represent over 1.5 billion people and more than half of the seats at the United Nations.
States
Africa
The African OACPS countries negotiate in five
Economic Partnership Agreements
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a scheme to create a free trade area (FTA) between the European Union and other countries. They are a response to continuing criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminating preferential trade agree ...
groups (West Africa,
CEMAC
The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
,
Southern Africa Development Community
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana.
Its goal is to further regional socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security coop ...
,
East African Community
The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation composed of seven countries in the Great Lakes region of East Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republics of Kenya, Burundi, ...
, Eastern and Southern Africa) with the
EU.
Caribbean
All countries of the
Caribbean Community
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) is an intergovernmental organization that is a political and economic union of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) throughout the Caribbean. They have primary objectives to promote econom ...
plus
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
group negotiate in the
CARIFORUM
The Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) is a subgroup of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and serves as a base for economic dialogue with the European Union. It was established in 1992. Its membership comprises the 15 Caribbean ...
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
(EU).
Pacific
All developing member states of the
Pacific Islands Forum
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between countries and territories of Oceania, including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations. It was founded in 197 ...
group and
Timor-Leste
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...
negotiate in the Pacific EPA with the EU.
North Atlantic
In this region are located the
EU overseas countries and territories (OCTs) of
Greenland
Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is t ...
and
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (), officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (french: link=no, Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon ), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in t ...
, but there are no OACPS states.
[OCT regional groups](_blank)
South Atlantic
In this region are located the EU OCTs of
Saint Helena
Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constitu ...
and
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouzet ...
, but there are no OACPS states.
Nevertheless, Saint Helena is developing links with the SADC EPA group.
Uninhabited territories
The uninhabited EU OCTs do not participate in regional integration and do not receive development funding from the EU.
*
British Indian Ocean Territory
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 ...
, located in the Indian Ocean
*
French Southern and Antarctic Territories
The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (french: Terres australes et antarctiques françaises, TAAF) is an Overseas Territory (french: Territoire d'outre-mer or ) of France. It consists of:
# Adélie Land (), the French claim on the continent ...
, located in the Indian Ocean
*
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
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, anthem = "God Save the King"
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, song =
, image_map = South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in United Kingdom.svg
, map_caption = Location of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Oce ...
, located in the South Atlantic, thus in a group with the inhabited OCTs there
*
British Antarctic Territory
The British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories, of which it is by far the largest by area. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between ...
, located near the South Atlantic, thus in a group with the inhabited OCTs there
Special designations
The Cotonou agreement recognises the specific challenges faced by less developed countries, land-locked countries, and islands in their economic development. Therefore, those countries are granted a more favourable treatment than other OACPS member countries. The text of the Cotonou agreement has been updated in 2005 and 2010, but the lists have not, despite the fact that the actual list of LDCs as defined by the United Nations has changed:
Cape Verde
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, official_languages = Portuguese
, national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole
, capital = Praia
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, demonym ...
has graduated from LDC status in December 2007, while
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
has acquired the status in 2001 and
Timor-Leste
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...
in 2003. The following lists should thus not be considered as the actual lists of OACPS LDCs and islands (a few islands are also not listed).
Annex VI of the Cotonou agreement lists the following designations:
Least-developed OACPS states
*Angola
*Benin
*Burkina Faso
*Burundi
*Cape Verde
* the Central African Republic
*Chad
*Comoros
* the Democratic Republic of the Congo
*Djibouti
*Equatorial Guinea
*Eritrea
*Ethiopia
*Gambia
*Guinea
*Guinea-Bissau
*Haiti
*Kiribati
*Lesotho
*Liberia
*Madagascar
*Malawi
*Mali
*Mauritania
*Mozambique
*Niger
*Rwanda
*Samoa
*São Tomé and Príncipe
*Sierra Leone
*Solomon Islands
*Somalia
*Sudan
*Tanzania
*Tuvalu
*Togo
*Uganda
*Vanuatu
*Zambia
The Least developed OCTs are the following: Anguilla, Mayotte, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Overseas Association Decision, Annex I B
/ref>
Landlocked OACPS states
*Botswana
*Burkina Faso
*Burundi
*Central African Republic
*Chad
*Ethiopia
*Lesotho
*Malawi
*Mali
*Niger
*Rwanda
*Eswatini
*Uganda
*Zambia
*Zimbabwe
Island OACPS states
*Antigua and Barbuda
*Bahamas
*Barbados
*Cape Verde
*Comoros
*Cuba
*Dominica
*Dominican Republic
*Fiji
*Grenada
*Haiti
*Jamaica
*Kiribati
*Madagascar
*Mauritius
*Nauru
*Papua New Guinea
*Saint Kitts and Nevis
*Saint Lucia
*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
*Samoa
*São Tomé and Príncipe
*Seychelles
*Solomon Islands
*Tonga
*Trinidad and Tobago
*Tuvalu
*Vanuatu
See also
* ACP-EU Development Cooperation
* EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a scheme to create a free trade area (FTA) between the European Union and other countries. They are a response to continuing criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminating preferential trade agree ...
* ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
* Economic Partnership Agreements
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a scheme to create a free trade area (FTA) between the European Union and other countries. They are a response to continuing criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminating preferential trade agree ...
(EPA) with the ACP countries
* The Courier (ACP-EU) : The magazine of Africa-Caribbean-Pacific and European Union cooperation and relations
*
* Everything but Arms
Everything but Arms (EBA) is an initiative of the European Union under which all imports to the EU from the Least Developed Countries are duty-free and quota-free, with the exception of armaments. EBA entered into force on 5 March 2001. There were ...
* European Centre for Development Policy Management
References
External links
Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States
ACP-EU cooperation dossier of Euforic
African Voices: About EC Aid to Africa
The Courier - The Magazine of Africa, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union cooperation and relations
CTA's magazine on agriculture in ACP countries
''Spore''
Website on EU cooperation for ACP countries
{{DEFAULTSORT:Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
.
International organizations based in Africa
International organizations based in Oceania
International organizations based in the Caribbean
International economic organizations
International trade organizations
Trade blocs
Economy of Africa
Economy of Oceania
Economy of the Caribbean
Foreign relations of the Caribbean
Intergovernmental organizations established by treaty
Organizations established in 1975
1975 establishments in Africa
1981 establishments in Oceania
1970s establishments in the Caribbean
1975 establishments in North America
1975 establishments in South America
Politics of Africa
Politics of Oceania
Politics of the Caribbean
United Nations General Assembly observers