Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the 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 Cotonou on 23 June 2000^f1, and revised in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005^f2, and in particular Article 96 thereof,

Having regard to the internal agreement between the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement^f3, and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

Council Decision 2004/793/EC of 15 November 2004 concluding the consultation procedure with the Togolese Republic under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement^f4 lays down a period of 24 months from the date of its adoption for monitoring the appropriate measures.

The political emergency following President Eyadema’s death in 2005 was an unforeseen event that set back the initial timetable for implementing the undertakings given by the Togolese government and prevented the objectives from being attained by the initial deadline, in particular the organisation of early parliamentary elections.

At the end of this monitoring period many undertakings have been fulfilled and practical steps taken towards fulfilling the main undertakings still outstanding. Nevertheless several important measures concerning essential elements of the Cotonou Agreement have yet to be implemented,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: