The European Union has resumed development co-operation with Guinea-Bissau following elections in the West African country, which the Union termed “free and credible”.
Co-operation between the EU and Guinea-Bissau is governed by the 2000 Cotonou Agreement, which also serves as the framework for the EU’s relations with 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Limiting measures under Article 96 of the Agreement were introduced in July 2011 following a period military instability in Guinea-Bissau during April 2010.
Commitments were made during 2011, which promised reform of Guinea-Bissau’s security sector, the renewal of the military hierarchy and steps to guard against impunity.
The EU has undertaken to continue monitoring progress in these areas and said through a statement from the Office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, “the EU expects that the Guinea-Bissauan authorities make every effort to fulfil their commitments to the EU as a matter of priority.”
