African, Caribbean and Pacific States

ACP members.

ACP flag.

African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) is an association of countries formed to coordinate activities of the 1975 Lomé Convention.

Objectives

The objectives of the ACP are:

• Ensuring the realization of the objectives of the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000, (substitution of the Lomé Convention).
• Coordinate the activities of ACP States in the implementation of that convention.
• Define the common positions of ACP States in relation to the European Union (European Development Fund).
• Sustainable development, as well as its increased integration into the global economy.

Structure of the ACP

According to the Georgetown Agreement (2003) the ACP agencies are:

• Summit of Heads of State and Government. which dictates the general policies of the ACP;
• Council of Ministers. It consists of a representative of the ACP States. It is responsible for the implementation of ACP policies and for the periodic evaluation of the state of implementation. It meets regularly every 6 months or special sessions. Their decisions are taken by consensus;
• Committee of Ambassadors. Integrated by a representative of each member of the ACP. Assist the Council of Ministers in its tasks, monitor the agreements between the EU and the ACP;
• ACP Parliamentary Committee. Future implementation; and
• Secretariat of the ACP. The secretary general of the ACP is appointed by the Council of Ministers. It is responsible for the administrative operation and to execute all actions decided by the ACP agencies and monitor their implementation. Its headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium.

Secretaries General: Tieoule Kontate (Mali, 1976-1980), Edwin W. Carrington ( (Trinidad and Tobago 1985-1990), Ghebray Berhane (Ethiopia 1990-1995), Ng'andu Peter Magande (Zambia, 1996-2000), Jean-Robert Goulongana (Gabon, 2000-2005) and to date Sir John Kaputin (Papua New Guinea, since 2005).

Official languages are English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Members