From Cotonou to post-Cotonou : which way for the EU/ACP partnership?

Abstract

The EU/ACP cooperation framework, which was already a unique international agreement, is becoming increasingly politicised with a shift of focus to non-state actors and instruments. However this transformation seems to be at the expense of states, traditional stakeholders of this partnership, which may not have enough incentive to continue implementing this agreement since they no longer feel they are in the driver seat. It is therefore necessary to reassure them that the mutation of the cooperation is not targeting them but is meant for the benefit of all the stakeholders and the community. On that will depend the forthcoming ratification and subsequently the implementation of the so-called post-Cotonou agreement which has been initialled.