Commonwealth Secretariat and European Commission strengthen ties
2 March 2005
The Commonwealth Secretariat and European Commission held high level discussions today during which they agreed to develop new collaborative projects in three areas: democracy-building, targeted assistance for small island developing states, and capacity-building support for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of developing states.
The agreement to work jointly on several new initiatives followed the meeting of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso. They were at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels for the annual meeting between the heads of the two organisations.
The Commonwealth Secretariat inaugurated the high level dialogue with the European Commission two years ago in order to advance the common interests of both organisations among their respective member countries and in several of the world's regions where their interests coincide.
The Commonwealth and the European Union are both committed to a set of fundamental values including their commitment to democratic principles, an open and fair international trading system, and the elimination of poverty.
The Secretary-General and the President noted that the Commonwealth Secretariat is already implementing a €20 million collaborative project, launched in 2004, to provide trade negotiating capacity and skills to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The 'Hub and Spokes' project is a creative approach to increasing trade capacity in developing countries. The partnership puts in place a network of trade policy advisers (hubs) at the headquarters of regional organisations and trade policy analysts (spokes) in the national ACP capitals. Building on this precedent-setting cooperation, the two leaders agreed to begin a process to identify new areas of collaboration.
These proposals are to be taken forward by the European Commissioners responsible for Trade, Development and External Relations within the next few months.
The Secretary-General and President agreed on the pressing need to inject senior political direction and momentum to the World Trade Organisation trade talks in Geneva. The Commonwealth Secretary-General confirmed that a meeting of the Commonwealth's 53 Ministers of Trade will be convened in December in Hong Kong on the eve of the WTO Ministerial.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General also extended an invitation to the President of the European Commission to attend the next biennial meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government to be held in November 2005 in Malta, a member state of both the Commonwealth and European Union.
Note to Editors:
The modern Commonwealth comprises 53 independent member states across the globe, including thirty-two small states. It is made up of 1.8 billion citizens, almost a third of the world's population. All Commonwealth countries share a commitment to fundamental values such as development, democracy, good governance and human rights. The Commonwealth works to build global consensus on debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries; fairer trade rules for poorer nations; and the special needs and vulnerabilities of small states. The Commonwealth promotes dialogue among its citizens, and with the international community, and employs diplomacy in conflict prevention and resolution. The Commonwealth Secretariat's mission is to work as a trusted partner for all Commonwealth people; as a force for peace, democracy, equality, and good governance; a catalyst for global consensus building; and a source of assistance for sustainable development and poverty eradication.
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