Report drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Development and Cooperation on the context of the future ACP-EEC convention to follow LOME II. Part II: Sub-reports by the individual rapporteurs and opinions of the committees asked for an opinion. Working Documents 1983-1984. Document 1-605/83/II, 12 August 1983.

Abstract

Self-reliance and the new ACP-EEC Convention Or again, to distinguish between a self-reliant development strategy and previous development strategies: 'The current development policy debate on improving the terms of trade, stab1Lizing export earnings, the new world economic order and so forth, does not go to the heart of the development problem.The primary obstacle to development is not mono-cultures, high export dependence, the high proportion of raw materials in exports, or fluctuating export revenue, but the~ in which such exports are produced, the~ export revenue is used and the internal structures which such activities produce.From the foregoing historical analysis it may be assumed that every effort to improve the external economic position of Third World countries merely through the use of external economic mechanisms will remain fruitless if that effort is not backed up by promotion of development through a far.reachingtransformation of the domestic, social and political systems of such countries'.<Dieter Senghas, Autocentric Development on the European Model, paper to the German Society for Peace and Conflict Research, No 37 p.18).A more eloquent expression than these definitions, couched in the language of political science, may be found in descriptions of what self-reliance means in practice, contained in important documents produced by the regional conferences or organizations to which the ACP countries belong.For instance: 'b~1-~~-Q~il9 QQ_~b~!-~~-b!~~ and let development plans do likewise' <Prime Minister Mara of Fiji to the Pacific Islands Conference: Development the Pacific Way, Honolulu, March 1980, Conference Papers p.74).At this conference of leading politician~mainly from the Pacific Island State~ attention focused on strategies designed, as the final communique puts it, to achieve self-sufficienty meeting basic human needs allow for control of our destinies speak with a united voice in international forums promote national development, and enhance regional cooperation, in order to 'achieve a quality of life based on what exists in each Island society, and through the "Pacific Way".Regional cooperation, cult1~ral identity ('If you don't know whence you have sailed, how can you know where you are going?',T~lese~proverb.)and decentralized problem-solving as close as possible to the individual citizen have an essential role to play in this.-7 -PE 85.143/fin. -In the Lagos Plan of Action for the economic developmen\ of Africa 1980-2000 of the OAU (quoted here in the edition of the International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva 1981, and referred to hereinafter as the Lagos Plan> the preamble states inter alia:'Africa must cultivate the virtue of self-reliance.This is not to say that the country should totally cut itself off from outside contributions.However, these outside contributions should only supplement our own effort And:'As a consequence of the need for increased self-reliance Africa must mobilize her entire hu~an and material resources for her development'.At the same time, the importance is stressed of ensuring that 'our development policies reflect adequately our socio-cultural values in order to reinforce our cultural identity', and repeated reference is made to such terms as autonomous capacity, self-sufficiency internally Located development, and indigenous abilities.Here again, then, emphasis is laid on mobilizing the country's own resources, both human and material, there is a desire for the country to rely to a greater extent on itself, and for the basic needs of the local population to be respected in the context of its own cultural identity -all this goes hand in hand with a substantial reappraisal of the regional approach to the ultimate objective of an African common market.This objective has already taken contractual form for the Caribbean countries in the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community (Caricom) of 1973.It is PE 85.143/fin.Sources of Lagging Growth Ccontd.>The internal "structural" problems and the external factors 'impeding African economic growth have been exacerbated by domestic policy inadequacies, of which three are critical.First, trade and exchange-rate policies have overprotected industry, held back agriculture, and absorbed much administrative capacity.Second, too Little attention has been paid to administrative constraints in mobilizing and managing resources for development; given the widespread weakness of.planning,decisionmaking, and management capacities, public sectors frequently become overextended.Third, there has been a consistent bias against agriculture in price, tax and exchange-rate policies.' From'Accelerated Development in Sub-Saharan Africa' World Bank 1981, p.4.The Tongalese Prime Minister: 'There is confusion caused by the Pacific Communities being constantly confronted by an industrial model.There is heavy stress on economic development at the expense of social and appropriate cultural pgorammes.Colonial domination has exposed Pacific peoples to the standar-ds derived from living in other countries.These standards are being used as a yardstick in measuring development.Since most Western countries are industrialized, there is the risk that standards for cultural development in the Pacific may be based on these western values', Pacific Conference papers, p.39. Industrialization programme for Africa, p.28, point 7: 'Industrial activities initiated by foreign investors have failed to meet the basic needs of the population: they have not made for an integrated economy nor have they contributed to the modernization of African society.The legacy of Colonialism has perpetuated at best an economic structure featuring a comparatively small modern sector and a large backward agricultural sector ', and 'The capital-intensive manufacture of sophisticated products has heightened the regions' dependence on foreign manpower, capital and technology'.-14 -PE 85.143/fin.'---'into account by the Co11munity and the ACP between th"is meeting dr.d 1 September''.Let us hope that the European Parliament's own-init1at1ve report will contribute to that end.-36 -PE 85.143/fin.