Trade unions contribute to the EU consultation on ACP relations

The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued Joint Consultation Paper to which the TUDCN has contributed. Entitled Towards a new partnership between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries after 2020, this process is to inform the post-Cotonou structuring of the relationship between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

Trade unions were invited to share their perspective on a number of key issues both in looking back over the period of relations between the two regions that is coming to an end and looking forward to the next one. A revitalised call for transparency, democratic ownership and accountability remain the priority as essential building blocks for the construction of good governance systems, and politically stable environments, as basis for turning economic performance in sustainable and inclusive development.

The trade union contribution highlights research that shows a programming that is still mainly EU driven and that key choices are still made by the EU following a top down approach. Trade unions call on EU to actively promote trade union rights and social dialogue as prerequisites for democratic and transparent governance. In order to ensure policy coherence, these must be promoted across political dialogue, trade and investment agreements and policies, within the sustainable development chapter and in the development cooperation program.

Positive elements of the Cotonour Partnership Agreement, signed in 2000 are also highlighted regarding the promotion of sustainable and inclusive development. In order to best contribute to the SDGs framework, trade unions call for a mainstreaming of social policy throughout the agreement with stronger focus on decent work (SDG 8), including social protection, and the fight against inequalities (SDG 10), including wage policies.

You can consult the full contribution online here