Their relationship could only be legally maintained if they were bound by an agreement. As it was impossible to sign the new agreement before 30 June 2022, when the Cotonou Agreement was supposed to expire, the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States finally decided to agree on another year. (Le Mandat)
The European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States have extended the application of the Cotonou Agreement until June 2023. This fourth extension was unavoidable due to the lack of consensus within the European Union. At their meeting on 8 and 9 June in Brussels, the ministers of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States expressed “serious concern about the delay in signing the new OACPS-EU Agreement as a result of EU internal procedures that require unanimity for entering into international agreements”. They also said they took note of the proposed 12-month extension of the transition measures to allow the continued application of the provision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement pending the signing of the new Agreement. Ministers further “urged the concerned EU Member State(s) blocking approval of the new Agreement to positively consider facilitating the normal functioning of the relations, such as the holding of regular joint meetings, as foreseen in the new OACPS-EU Partnership Agreement”. Another obstacle to the signing of the new agreement has been France, which has just completed its term of office as President of the Council of the European Union, according to the European Commissioner for International Partnerships. On 10 May, Jutta urpilainer said, half-heartedly, that it was impossible to make progress as the French were very focused on their own elections.
According to the decision of the ACP-EU committee of ambassadors, the Cotonou Agreement will remain in force until 30 June 2023 or until the entry into force of the new agreement or the provisional application of the new agreement between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
