EU - Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne’s participation in the Foreign Affairs Council (Development) (Brussels, 22 May 2018)

The agenda includes the following points:

• the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement: While the Cotonou Agreement expires in 2020, the high representative will provide a progress report on the Council’s draft mandate for negotiations on the renewal of the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne will reaffirm the importance France attaches to relations between the EU and the 79 countries in the ACP group, which should be developed within a renewed, modernized and forward-looking framework, enabling a strengthened economic and mutually beneficial partnership;

• emergency trust fund on migration: This point will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views on the continuation of funding and the thematic and geographic priorities to be supported;

• financial instruments for external assistance in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027): Two weeks after the publication of the Commission’s proposal on the Multiannual Financial Framework, the ministers should discuss the future priorities for EU external assistance. France will continue to pay close attention to the goals of the future framework with respect to Africa, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the EU’s neighboring countries.

A lunch will be devoted to gender and development issues focusing on the EU’s efforts in the area of gender equality, the Spotlight initiative and the role of women in peace and security; France is actively involved in these issues.

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne is also taking part in the International Donor Conference for The Gambia. During this conference, France will announce a contribution of more than €50 million.