Suchergebnisse

Since the promulgation of Cotonou Agreements between the European Union and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) the application of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) has been deeply controversial. Analysts and organizations questioned the accords on spirit and letter, considering them potentially damaging to the process of sustainable development of the ACP. This article identifies and analyses the problems that became apparent during the agreements negotiations, taking into account the arguments raised by all parties concerned. Adapted from the source document.

The EU-Russia negotiations towards the renewal of the bilateral Cooperation & Partnership Agreement were burdened by misunderstandings on shared values & specific issues of relations with the Baltic states & Poland. In a context of raising tensions, the Portuguese Presidency chose continuity rather than change of the EU-Russia partnership. Adapted from the source document.

The relationship between Brazil & the European Union has been hostage to the EU-Mercosul relations & the negotiations on the association agreement between the two regional multilateral institutions. However, the European Commission has recognized that relations with Brazil are especially relevant & thus moved to support the first EU-Brazil summit. This summit, convened by the Portuguese Presidency, has established a strategic partnership with Brazil & also bolstered the bilateral relations between Portugal & Brazil. Adapted from the source document.

The article argues that the relationship between the EU & Russia has been an unequal one in recent years, & that Portugal, given the fact that it now occupies the rotating presidency of the EU, is in a historic position to ameliorate the situation. The issue is of special importance in light of the fact that December 1, 2007 is the tenth anniversary of the Agreement on Partnership & Cooperation between the EU & Russia. The article discusses many of the areas of agreement delineated in the document, with a special focus on those that still require a good amount of work. The conclusion argues for an energetic dialogue between Russia & its partners in the EU, with the goal of remedying the economic & diplomatic areas in which Russia still lags behind. R. Young

The debate about NATO strategy is entering the decisive stage in the run-up to the Alliance's Summit, November in Lisbon. Portugal should try to incorporate its vision about Alliance's future in the strategic document namely its views on the transatlantic relations, on the NATO/EU partnership & on the strategic cooperation with Africa & Brazil, among others. Adapted from the source document.