Relations with developing countries are a long-established part of the European Union’s external affairs and the “(…) EU’s contributions to international development are not only unsurpassed but have become the standard against which the rest of the world measures itself and is judged.” (Babarinde, 1998: 128).1 For most of the past 40 years the ACP-countries have been at the heart of EU-development affairs. Yet, several factors, mainly caused by the end of the Cold War, contributed to the transformation of the Union’s development policy in general. The following paper analyses how and why the EU’s external policies have changed towards developing countries, thereby focusing on the ACP-EU relationship. Section one discusses the evolution of the Union’s development policy. The Yaoundé- and Lomé-agreements are examined in the subsequent sections. Section four then analyses the developments that led to the most fundamental transformation of the Union’s development policy- the Cotonou Agreement, which will be subject to the last section. The paper concludes by evaluating the transformation of EU-development policy in general. 1 The Union’s significance as an international actor regarding development policy is for example underlined by agreements with the World Bank or the United Nations Development Programme to produce common development strategies. (Bretherton and Vogler, 1999: 109). In the late 1990s the EC and its Member States accounted for 60 percent of the world aid. Also see European Union (2000) and Grilli (1993).
Table of Contents
1. Evolution of EU-development policy
2. From Yaoundé I to Lomé III
3. Lomé IV
4. Fundamental changes
5. The Cotonou-agreement
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper examines the historical trajectory and the underlying drivers of the European Union's external development policy, with a specific focus on the evolving relationship between the EU and the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific) countries from the early association agreements to the contemporary Cotonou framework.
- Historical evolution of EU-development cooperation (Yaoundé to Lomé).
- Impact of the end of the Cold War on EU development priorities.
- Transformation of aid into a more political instrument (human rights and democracy).
- The role of neo-liberal ideologies and trade globalization in policy shifts.
- The radical shift embodied in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Fundamental changes
At this point it becomes necessary to reflect on the three key factors that contributed to the most fundamental transformation of the EC-development cooperation framework.
A) The end of the Cold War had a strong impact on the Union’s development policy. First, the Union increasingly focused on Central-and Eastern-European countries as well as its Mediterranean partners, thereby gradually shifting its development-priorities away from ACP-states. Second, the collapse of Communism paved the way for the promotion of democratic values, human rights and good governance. The growing importance of human rights and democracy directly affected the EU’s development policy and especially the ACP-EU relationship. Third, in the post-Cold War period the EU strived to assume a more significant international role in development affairs. The increasing politicisation of development-agreements (i.e. the conditionality-and non-compliance-clauses concerning human rights), the expansion of EC-development policies beyond the associates and the creation of ECHO have to be seen in this context. Fourth, this was supported by the TEU, which explicitly provided for a common policy on development cooperation and redefined the EU-development priorities.
B) Economic and trade globalisation combined with neo-liberal ideologies necessitated the adaptation of the Union’s development policy to this new climate.
C) As noted above, EU-development cooperation became increasingly politicised and broader in scope. Also, the ACP-countries started to loose their priority-status and a certain “aid fatigue” evolved in traditional donor member states. The 1997 Commission Green Paper has to be seen in this context. It analysed the relevance and future options of ACP-EU-relations.
Summary of Chapters
1. Evolution of EU-development policy: Discusses the origins of EC development policy, highlighting the influence of colonial interests and the Treaty of Rome on initial association principles.
2. From Yaoundé I to Lomé III: Details the transition from the early Yaoundé conventions to the Lomé I Convention, emphasizing the establishment of the ACP group and non-reciprocal preferences.
3. Lomé IV: Analyzes the introduction of political conditionality and human rights clauses, reflecting a shift toward broader development objectives.
4. Fundamental changes: Examines the three key factors—post-Cold War dynamics, neo-liberal globalization, and the politicization of aid—that forced a major transformation in EU development policy.
5. The Cotonou-agreement: Describes the Cotonou Partnership Agreement as a radical paradigm shift involving free trade, political dialogue, and new aid allocation criteria.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the transformation of EU policy from post-colonial cooperation to a complex, politicized framework, while noting future challenges regarding policy consistency.
Keywords
European Union, EU-development policy, ACP countries, Lomé Convention, Cotonou Agreement, Political Conditionality, Human Rights, Trade Liberalization, Neo-liberalism, Sustainable Development, Development Aid, Regional Cooperation, Globalization, Economic Partnership Agreements, Aid Fatigue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on how and why the European Union's external development policies toward developing countries have evolved, specifically analyzing the changing dynamics within the ACP-EU relationship.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The document covers the historical development of cooperation frameworks (Yaoundé and Lomé), the impact of geopolitical shifts like the end of the Cold War, the rise of political conditionality, and the economic shift toward free trade.
What is the central research question?
The work aims to explain the transformation of EU external policies by answering how the policy has changed over time and what structural or ideological factors drove these changes.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The paper employs a policy analysis method, evaluating historical legal agreements and institutional shifts in the context of broader geopolitical and economic developments.
What is the main subject of the final chapters?
The final chapters detail the move toward the Cotonou Agreement, which represents a fundamental break with previous models, and conclude by evaluating the current status and future challenges of EU development aid.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include EU-development policy, ACP countries, Cotonou Agreement, political conditionality, trade liberalization, and the Lomé Convention.
How did the end of the Cold War influence EU development cooperation?
The end of the Cold War led the EU to shift its geographical focus toward Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, while simultaneously elevating democratic values and human rights to essential elements of development policy.
What role does the Cotonou Agreement play in the current EU strategy?
Cotonou represents a radical transformation that emphasizes political dialogue, good governance, and a transition from non-reciprocal preferences to regional economic partnerships, effectively ending the ACP countries' status as the most preferred partner.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Julia Heise (Autor:in), 2005, How and why have the EU's external policies changed toward developing countries ?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/39094
