EC/South Africa agreement: trade, development and cooperation

The Council heard a presentation by Commissioner PINHEIRO of the Commission’s communication concerning negotiating directives with a view to establishing a global, coherent and stable framework for relations between the European Union and the Republic of South Africa. Such a framework would encompass both a trade and cooperation agreement and a Protocol to the Lomé Convention covering the terms and conditions for the accession of South Africa to the Convention. The trade and cooperation agreement should enable free trade with South Africa to be achieved progressively; the aim of the Protocol to the Lomé Convention would be the accession of South Africa to the Convention as a qualified member. The Council welcomed the communication and instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to examine it and to report back to the Council at its next meeting.