Suchergebnisse

Relations between European Union (EU) states and associated underdeveloped economies (the ACP states) have been largely governed by the Lomé Conventions. Likely difficulties in gaining World Trade Organisation (WTO) approval for a renewal of Lomé IV in its current form, and recognition that Lomé has been an insufficient support to the ACP group, has led the European Commission to search for an alternative framework. Its proposed new guidelines bring the debate forward on what a politically and legally feasible, and economically mutually beneficial framework might involve. They include a proposal that aid be focused on countries with a proven commitment to poverty eradication and conflict prevention, and offer Lomé‐style access to non‐ACP Least Developed Countries (LLDCs).
Yet they fail to respond to ACP trade interests, and sit uneasily with the stated development aims of previous Lomé conventions. ACP non‐LLDC's will have to chose between negotiating ill‐defined Free Trade Agreements (FTA), or acceeding to the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), markedly reducing access to EU markets. The costs ‐ in foreign exchange foregone and livelihoods destroyed ‐ could be considerable, as is shown by case studies of Zimbabwe, Ghana, and the Windward Islands.
Summary recommendations are made, finally, as to how EU trade preferences for ACP countries might best meet the needs of the majority, including a ten year waiver, allowing scope to adjust to new competitive pressures and to begin diversification of export bases; and simplified access to EU markets for the LLDC's.

Von September 1998 bis Februar 2000 steht eine Neuverhandlung der Lome-Verträge über die Handelsbeziehungen der Europäischen Union mit der Gruppe der 70 afrikanischen, karibischen und pazifischen Staaten an. Vorschläge von Seiten der Kommission zu diesen Verhandlungen sehen Veränderungen im Präferenzsystem der Handelsbeziehungen zu einzelnen Untergruppen der AKP-Staaten vor. So sollen die Handelspräferenzen in zwei Stufen gegliedert werden, wobei einige LLDCs, die bislang nicht der AKP-Gruppe angehörten, in das Präferenzsystem aufgenommen werden sollen, während bei einigen anderen AKP-Ländern die Handelspräferenzen beschränkt werden sollen. Der vorliegende Artikel stellt diese Vorschläge vor und diskutiert die möglichen negativen Auswirkungen der Veränderungen. Dabei werden u.a. die Auswirkungen einer Reduzierung von Handelspräferenzen auf den Bananenhandel und die Kakaoindustrie in Ghana, Kamerun und den Windward Islands dargelegt. (DÜI-Spl)

Examines the economic costs of proposed European Union guidelines requiring ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) non-least developed countries to negotiate free trade agreements or accede to the Generalized System of Preferences, reducing access to EU markets. Includes case studies of Zimbabwe, Ghana, and the Windward Islands.