Mission and Vision
The Organisation of African, Caribbean And Pacific States
Comprised of 79 Member States from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) strives to achieve the sustainable development of its Members and their progressive integration into the world economy.
Mission
To accelerate the political, economic and social advancement of our peoples through good governance, poverty eradication, promotion of trade, sustainable development and equitable integration into the global economy.
Vision
To become the leading transcontinental organization working in solidarity to improve the living standards of our people through South-South and North-South cooperation.
Core Values
Solidarity, peace and security, good governance and the rule of law, social justice, unity and diversity.
Member States
Objectives
The objectives of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), as defined by the revised Georgetown Agreement (2019), shall be to:
- Promote the efforts of Member States of the OACPS to eradicate poverty, achieve sustainable development, and fully benefit from the advantages of trade, through their gradual and more effective participation in the world economy.
- Promote and strengthen unity and solidarity among the Member States of the OACPS as well as understanding among their peoples.
- Consolidate, strengthen, and maintain peace and stability as a precondition for improving the well-being of the peoples of the OACPS, in a democratic and free environment.
- Deepen and strengthen economic, political, social, and cultural relations among the Member States of the OACPS, through regional integration, strategic partnerships between OACPS regions, and inter-regional cooperation in the fields of trade, science and technology, industry, transport and communications, education, training and research, information and communication, the environment, demography, and human resources.
- Promote policies, especially in the areas of the environment and the rational management of natural resources, in pursuit of sustainable development of the Member States of the OACPS.
- Serve as a forum for formulating and coordinating common positions on global issues.
- Advocate for a multilateral system that is fair, equitable, and rules-based, and which contributes to economic growth and sustainable development of the Member States of the OACPS.
- Develop strategic relations and partnerships with external parties including within the global South, as well as with regional and international organisations for the purposes of building global consensus on South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
- Strengthen the political identity of the OACPS to enable it to act as a coherent political force in international bodies and to ensure that due regard is accorded to its specific interests.
- Promote and reinforce political dialogue within the OACPS so as to consolidate the unity and solidarity of the OACPS.
- Strengthen regional mechanisms for the prevention, management, and peaceful settlement of conflicts, by pursuing and developing cooperation among the Member States of the OACPS and between the Member States of the OACPS and other States.
History of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)
Cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) began in 1975 with the First Lomé Convention, though its roots trace back to the formation of Europe as an organized regional entity. When the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957, it established a framework for collaboration with the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the six founding nations—Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands—primarily involving West and Central African countries linked to France.
A “Regime of Association” was created in 1957, supported by the first European Development Fund (EDF). In 1963 and 1969, 18 African States and six European countries signed the First and Second Yaoundé Conventions, financed by the 2nd and 3rd EDF, focusing on financial, technical, and trade cooperation, mainly in economic and social infrastructure. The United Kingdom’s accession to the European Community in 1973 extended cooperation to Commonwealth countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, later influenced by Spain’s entry.
The First Lomé Convention in 1975 united 46 ACP and 9 European countries, followed by Lomé II in 1980 with 58 ACP States and Lomé III in 1985 with 65 ACP and 10 European members. Each five-year agreement was backed by the 4th, 5th, and 6th EDFs until Lomé IV in 1990. Amid major global shifts like the fall of the Berlin Wall, ACP-EU cooperation evolved into a partnership based on solidarity and shared responsibility. The Lomé Conventions also introduced non-reciprocal trade preferences, agricultural programs, and the Stabex mechanism to offset export losses from price fluctuations.
Each Lomé Convention brought steady improvements without disruption. Lomé II introduced Sysmin for mining products and emphasized food self-sufficiency, while Lomé III initiated the idea of political dialogue. Lomé IV, signed in 1989, formally included Human Rights as a core principle and adopted structural adjustment policies from the Bretton Woods Institutions. Lasting ten years, it featured two five-year Financial Protocols supported by the 7th and 8th EDFs and was signed by 68 ACP countries and 12 EU members. The later negotiations reflected Europe’s declining interest after the Cold War, making Human Rights and democratic values central, with provisions for aid suspension in case of violations.
Lome IV bis, which was signed in 1995, saw the number of signatory countries move to 70 for the ACP and 15 on the EU side, and distinguished itself by the importance accorded to decentralised cooperation and the role of civil society. Twenty years of ACP-EU cooperation and the consolidation of solidarity among ACP countries had forged a cohesive bond which made the breaking up of the ACP bloc or any weakening of the ACP entity unthinkable.
The Cotonou Agreement negotiations were challenging, taking place amid global economic orthodoxy and growing awareness of the need for social inclusion in economic policies. Signed on 13 June 2000 by 77 ACP States, with Cuba unable to join initially, the Agreement became a symbol of OACPS solidarity and partnership with Europe. Despite not meeting all OACPS demands, it addressed key priorities and marked a major achievement. Spanning 20 years, it aimed to help ACP nations develop and integrate into the global market while gradually phasing out non-reciprocal trade preferences.
The ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) were designed to promote ACP countries’ development and integration into the global economy while aligning with WTO rules. These agreements emphasize gradual trade liberalization and asymmetry, recognizing differing development levels between the EU and ACP nations. The EU also supports ACP countries through structural and economic reforms to strengthen competitiveness. From 2000 to 2007, this transitional phase required WTO approval, secured in 2001 when ACP countries won a crucial waiver for the Cotonou Agreement’s trade chapter. This marked the ACP Group’s emergence as a strong, pragmatic advocate for fair and balanced global trade.
The Cotonou Agreement, lasting 20 years, introduced major innovations by involving civil society and the private sector as active partners in development, not just beneficiaries. Its core principles—economic liberalization, stronger political dialogue, and democratization—were deliberate choices by ACP countries, reflecting their evolving development goals. Most ACP nations had already begun political renewal, with only a few still facing instability. The growing role of democracy is evident in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, which now unites democratically elected representatives from both regions in line with the spirit of the Agreement.
The economic crises of the late 1980s and 1990s led ACP countries to involve civil society more actively in poverty reduction. The Cotonou Agreement strengthened this collaboration by creating ACP Civil Society and Private Sector Forums to support cooperation. It also recognized that trade, not aid alone, drives development and emphasized building strong economic partnerships and attracting foreign investment through stable legal and political frameworks.
The Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government is the supreme organ of the OACPS. ACP Member States meet to define the OACPS’ general policy orientation. The Head of State or Government of the host-country presides over the Summit, which is organised by a Bureau comprising the President-in-Office, the outgoing President and the incoming President (if already designated).
