Negotiations on the revision of the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries ended in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday with an agreement to improve political dialogue on human rights, democratic principles and rule of law.
A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra by the Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana, said the underlying aim was to ensure that all avenues were exhausted before movement to the consultation procedure.
The statement said the parties also confirmed their common attachment to cooperate in countering the non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
It said they agreed that this constituted an essential element of the partnership agreement and a commitment, which shall be evaluated by the relevant multilateral institutions.
"Partners also affirmed their commitment to the importance of the institutions of global governance and the fight against impunity by inserting a reference to the International Criminal Court into the Agreement."
The statement said there was further agreement on the majority of issues relating to financial cooperation and procedures whereby it was agreed that the issue of "award of contract" shall be finalised by the joint CP-EU Council.
"The parties also reached a satisfactory preliminary conclusion on their discussions on the multi-sectoral financial framework of cooperation," it added.