Suchergebnisse

Freshwater, aquaculture, fisheries, biodiversity, forests, and agricultural land have high economic and social value throughout the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region; but they can also be over‐exploited, with damaging consequences for local economies, long term stability and for the Earth system as a whole – especially the climate system. The ACP's fast growing population puts growing pressure on the environment to provide food, water and fibre, on the regions' urban centres and transport networks, and on energy sources. Information on the location, condition and evolution of resources is an important step towards sustainability, but unfortunately such information can be hard to get. Earth observing satellite technology combined with geographical information management can help fill the information gap. In this objective, and because of its unique position to support the implementation of advanced interoperable geospatial technologies, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC) is setting‐up of an "Observatory for sustainable development" as single portal to support decision‐making for development in the fields of natural resource and food security. The African Union and European Union recognise the importance of this service and are beginning to develop this capacity as part of the AU EU joint strategic partnership. This paper describes the needs, and presents the first steps taken by the JRC and by the joint partnership in harnessing space technologies to help meet Millennium Development Goals, in particular eradication of poverty, and environmental sustainability. Article in English. Darnus vystymasis besivystančiose šalyse: Afrikos, Karibų ir Ramiojo vandenyno valstybių apžvalga Santrauka.Gėlasis vanduo, akvakultūra, žuvininkystė, biologinė įvairovė, miškų ir žemės ūkio paskirties žemė turi didėlę ekonominę ir socialinę vertę visoje Afrikoje, Karibų ir Ramiojo vandenyno (AKR) valstybių regione, bet šie veiksniai gali būti per daug eksploatuojami ir tureti žalingų padarinių vietinei ekonomikai, ilgalaikiam stabilumui ir visai Žemės sistemai, ypač klimato sistemai. Dėl greitai augančio AKR gyventojų skaičiaus regionų miestų centruose transporto tinklų ir energijos šaltinių vietose dideja aplinkos naudojimo mastas, siekiant gyventojus aprūpinti maistu, vandeniu ir lasteliena. Informacija apie vietoves išteklius, išteklių būklę ir raidą yra svarbus žingsnis siekiant darnos, bet, dėja, tokia informacija sunku surinkti. Žemės stebejimo palydovais technologija, sujungta su geografines informacijos valdymu, gali padėti užpildyti šios informacijos spragą. Dėl šio tikslo ir dėl unikalios padėties, siekiant diegti pažangias tarpusavyje saveikaujančias geoerdvines technologijas, Europos Komisijos (EK) jungtinis tyrimu centras (JTC) yra įkūręs Darnaus vystymosi observatorijas kaip viena portalą, kad palaikytų sprendimų priemimo plėtote gamtinių išteklių ir maisto saugumo srityse. Afrikos Sąjunga (AS) ir Europos Sąjunga (ES) pripažįsta šios paslaugos svarbą ir pradėjo plėtoti šiuos pajėgumus kaip dali strateginės AS ir ES partnerystės. Straipsnyje pristatomi pirmieji žingsniai, žengti AKR valstybių, plėtojant jungtinę partnerystę kosminių technologijų srityje, siekiant spręsti tūkstantmečio tikslus – mažinti skurdą ir tobulinti darnų aplinkos vystymą. Reikšminiai žodžiai:gamtos išteklių valdymas,nuotolinis stebėjimas,kosminis,stebėjimas,žemės stebėjimas,geografines informacijos valdymas,darnus vystymasis,Afrika,AKR. First published online: 10 Feb 2011

The European Union (EU) is one of the biggest traders of agricultural products. In 2017, extra-EU agricultural trade accounted for 7.4% of the total EU international trade. Furthermore, Europe is the main destination for agricultural goods arriving from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) trading partners. The paper analyses the effect of geographical proximity, cultural similarity, free trade agreements on bilateral agricultural trade as well as intra-industry trade between EU member states and its trading partners (intra and extra EU trade), employing gravity model for a period of 1996–2017. Regression results suggest that EU countries export more agricultural products to their common markets. In addition, the export costs of agricultural products are lower if the EU and its external trading partners are culturally similar; have the same religion or both have regional trade agreements. We found a moderate intra-industry trade between the EU and ACP countries at 18%. The results indicate rather inter-industry trade between EU and non-EU members, with a lower index level for ACP countries. A higher positive impact is revealed on the agricultural import between ACP-EU countries than export. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Purpose: The article aims to present the benefits and costs for ACP countries of the conclusion of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and of the implementation of trade liberalisation thereunder, in the light of their trade relations with the European Union Member States. Design/Methodology/Approach: The article employs an analytical and descriptive method. Empirical (indirect observation and description) and general methods, including deduction and induction, were used to achieve the aim of the study. It draws on sources from the national and international literature, secondary legislation of the European Union in the form of regulations as well as on EUROSTAT statistics. Findings: The analysis produced no unambiguous results, but they do indicate that the answer to the above question depends on the economic situation (status) of the country concerned (in this regard, the group of ACP Countries is very diversified). As regards LDCs, the 'no EPA' option seems to be the most favourable, whereas non-LDCs would benefit from an EPA due to the fact that if EPA is not signed, the EU "makes a threat" of suspending preferences, and this means worse EU market access conditions for these countries. Practical Implications: Practical implications for entities involved in trade with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and initiating further research to examine the situation of the ACP countries, the progress of EPA negotiations and their consequences. Originality/value: Performing a critical analysis of provisions contained in economic partnership agreements made by the European Union with the ACP countries and demonstrating that such agreements serve mainly the purpose of defending the EU's interests, but not the interests of the ACP countries, moreover, identifying weaknesses, opportunities and threats concerning the agreements in question (a SWOT analysis). ; peer-reviewed

This paper aims to examine and evaluate the relationship between the EU and ACP countries from the Lomé Conventions to the current Cotonou Agreement, and, in particular, the new Economic Partnership Agreements which will affect the ACP countries by far more than the European Union. This paper is structured as following: At first, a short overview about the development of the trade relations between the European Community and later on the European Union and the ACP-countries will be shown. Further on, the main reasons for the changed development policy will be shown as well as the success of the Lomé era will be evaluated. In the fourth and fifth part the current situation of the trade negotiations, i. e. trade relations under the Cotonou Agreement, and the future Economic Partnership Agreements as well as their expected impact on the ACPs seen from the different perspectives views and expectations expressed by the European Union on the one hand, and by the Non-Governmental-Organizations (NGOs) and the ACP countries on the other hand - will be examined and evaluated as far as possible at the moment.

Can small "weak" countries shape the outcomes of asymmetric trade negotiations and, if so, how? I scrutinise ten episodes of trade negotiations involving powerful European states and small developing countries from Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) since the 1960s. I draw on legal agreements, public documents, interviews with and the written memoirs of key negotiators, media reports and the secondary literature. I show that ACP countries influenced outcomes in important ways. For each negotiation I establish the variation between European preferences and the final negotiated outcome and show that in four of the ten negotiations there was a substantial gap between what European countries wanted and the final outcome. Close examination and comparison of these ten negotiations suggests that when three conditions hold, small developing countries can exert substantial influence even in a profoundly asymmetric encounter: First, the small state must be able to "walk away" from the negotiation at no cost. Second, where the small state is considered to be highly strategic by the large state, it can use this as a source of leverage. Third, the small state must have the political leadership and technical skills to deploy an astute negotiating strategy.