THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, and in particular, Article 96 thereof,
Having regard to the Internal Agreement on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
The essential elements referred to in Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement have been violated.
(2)
On 20 July 2004, pursuant to Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, consultations started with the ACP countries and the Republic of Guinea. On that occasion the Guinean authorities gave specific undertakings designed to remedy problems identified by the European Union and to implement them during a period of intensive dialogue lasting three months.
(3)
At the end of this period some substantive initiatives had been taken in respect of some of the undertakings referred to above and some undertakings had been met; nevertheless several important measures concerning essential elements of the Cotonou Agreement have not yet been taken,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: