As the Cotonou Agreement binding the European Union to 79 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) is expiring in May 2020, negotiation on a new deal are ongoing, reported recently the European news website eubulletin.com. EU policymakers are hoping to make progress soon since there is growing assertiveness of African governments and institutions in their liaisons with Brussels, the website said. It recalled that the first ministerial meeting between the EU and African Union was hosted in the European capital at the end of January. The African Union (AU) mirrors its European counterpart but lacks the institutional underpinnings that the European Commission acquired over time. The AU is at the moment to a great extent dependent on donors, including the EU.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 21, 2019 15:33 UTC