2007 No. 2135

european communities

The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement amending the Cotonou Agreement) Order 2007

Made

Coming into force in accordance with Article 2

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 25th day of July 2007

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

In accordance with section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 19721 a draft of this Order was laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 1972, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order as follows:

1

This Order may be cited as the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement amending the Cotonou Agreement) Order 2007.

2

This Order shall come into force on the date upon which the treaty specified in the Schedule to this Order enters into force for the United Kingdom. This date will be notified in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.

3

The treaty specified in the Schedule to this Order is to be regarded as a Community Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

Judith SimpsonClerk of the Privy Council

SCHEDULE

Agreement amending the 2000 Partnership Agreement between the Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 20052.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order declares the Agreement amending the 2000 Partnership Agreement between the Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part (the Cotonou Agreement3), signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005, to be a Community Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

The Agreement amends the Cotonou Agreement by adding provisions dealing with certain political and security concerns, co-operation strategies, implementation procedures, and development assistance.

The principal effect of declaring the Agreement to be a Community Treaty as so defined is to bring into play, in relation to it, the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 which provide for the implementation of treaties specified in Orders made under section 1(3) of that Act.

The Cotonou Agreement was signed on 23 June 2000 and was concluded for a period of 20 years. It covers political and trade relations and development co-operation and has, as its central objective, the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty. The Cotonou Agreement is subject to review every five years. It was specified as a Community Treaty by The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Partnership Agreement between the Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and the European Community and its Member States (The Cotonou Agreement)) Order 2001 No. 3935.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.