The Courier Africa - Caribbean - Pacific - European Union No 162 - March-April 1997. Country reports Somalia Antigua and Barbuda Dossier The future of ACP-EU relations

ISSN 1013-7335 t Africa ­ Caribbean ­ Pacific ­ European Union H. 1M ••»i*- ~ ■ ­* »r ■ m _ Country reports 't\ Somalia | Antigua and Barbuda Dossier The future of ACP­EU relations COUNTRY REPORTS Antigua and Barbuda a and Barbuda is one of the smallest ­ and most prosperous countries in the ACP Group, with an econo­my based on tourism and, increasingly, financial ser­vices. It also has a Westminster­style democracy. Unfortunately, there is a downside as well. The macro­economic indicators are worrying with a high public debt, shaky revenue The Courier collection and increasing Africa ­state expenditure. The news­Caribbean ­papers are full of stories of Pacific ­corruption, while the country European Union is reputed to be a haven for drug traffickers and money­launderers. Heavy depen­ Address: dence on tourism means the Postal address DOSSIER economy is vulnerable to (mail only) external factors, notably hur­'The ACP­EU Courier' ricanes. And as if this were Green Paper on the future of not enough, Barbuda, (popu­ Commission of lation 1500) is unhappy with the European Communities ACP­EU relations its 'poor brother' status and 200, rue de la Loi contemplates going it alone. The world has changed a great deal since the 1049 Brussels Pages 32 to 45 Fourth Lomé Convention was signed in 1989.