By Jack Lapauve Jr, EMTV – Port Moresby
National Planning Minister, Richard Maru, has called for certainty in the financing arrangements under the ACP-EU Post Cotonou Agreement that is being negotiated.
Minister Maru who is attending the 4th Meeting of the ACP Ministerial Central Negotiation Group in Chad, Central Africa, submitted a paper on behalf of the Pacific region.
He says the financing plan is an integral part of the core Agreement in order to ensure certainty in the planning and access to funding.
Minister Maru said the new Agreement stands as a policy or binding direction for the EU and should set of principles that will guide and govern the financing plan.
“The current experiences of cooperation with the EU has seen Mid Term Reviews of National Indicative Programmes being altered without proper consultations with recipient countries and implementation modalities also altered without the consent of recipient Governments”, Minister Maru said.
“Clarity is required from the European Union on how best this is approached through their processes to ensure financing is ring-fenced for the Pacific ACP States, and the other ACP regions, to safeguard priority and focus on the successful delivery of development projects under our partnership with the EU”, Minister Maru said.
“Therefore, conversation on this matter should commence now among the ACP member states for its inclusion in the agenda for negotiations in Round Three when Part 4 of the Post Cotonou Agreement relating to Development Cooperation and Means of Implementation is discussed.” Minister Maru said.
