Gay, illegals issues hamper EU deal with poor nations

(BRUSSELS) - The treatment of gays and illegal immigrants is holding up EU negotiations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations on revising a development agreement, diplomats said Thursday.

Talks with the 78 ACP nations on revising the 2000 Cotonou Agreement, which also has trade and political aspects, are bogged down over the two key points, one European diplomat told AFP.

"Some European nations want to spell out the question of returning illegal immigrants to their country of origin," as part of a revised accord, the diplomat said.

An ACP diplomat said the 78 nations want the issue to be dealt with in bilateral deals, country by country, rather than as part of Cotonou.

The other hot topic is a promise by EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs to see the principle of non-discrimination enshrined in the deal which is revised every five years.

Some African, Caribbean and Pacific nations still regard homosexuality as a crime.

In Uganda, for example, an anti-homosexual law is being examined by parliament.

If the ACP nations refuse any explicit reference to gay rights, the European Union envisages including it in a separate declaration, a source close to the EU Commission said.

However several European diplomats said that could prompt a declaration to the contrary by some of the nations involved.

Ministers are due in Brussels on Friday to renegotiate the accord which will also aim to tackle the proliferation of small arms and the threats posed by organised crime, and people and drugs trafficking.

The original "partnership agreement" was signed in June 2000 in Cotonou, Benin.

It was revised for the first time in 2005.

European Commission - Development - The Cotonou Agreement