The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Amended Cotonou Agreement) (Community Aid Internal Agreement) Order 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order declares the Internal Agreement between Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the financing of Community Aid under the multi-annual financial framework for the period 2008-2013 in accordance with the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (the Cotonou Agreement(1)) as amended and on the allocation of financial assistance for the overseas countries and territories to which part four of the EC Treaty applies, signed in Brussels on 17 July 2006, to be a Community Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

The Internal Agreement is an agreement between the Member States of the European Community. It provides the financial framework through which the Member States are to contribute to the Community’s development assistance to be provided under the Cotonou Agreement as amended.

The principal effect of declaring the Agreement to be a Community Treaty as so defined is to bring into play, in relation to it, the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 which provide for the implementation of treaties specified in Orders made under section 1(3) of that Act.

The Cotonou Agreement was signed on 23 June 2000 and was concluded for a period of 20 years. It covers political and trade relations and development co-operation and has, as its central objective, the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty. The Cotonou Agreement is subject to review every five years. The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Partnership Agreement between the Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and the European Community and its Member States (The Cotonou Agreement)) Order 2001 No. 3935 specified the Cotonou Agreement and a preceding internal agreement on financing as Community Treaties.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

(1)

Cm 5882.