The paper outlines financial and technical cooperation as practised under the Lome-Convention. The present keynote is ‚thoughtful pragmatism‘. Outgoing from the objectives of the Community’s development policy, top priorities for the future cooperation are identified. Partnership continues to be the guiding principle of the Lome-Conventions. But is it still appropriate? The post-Fiji-study- highlighted various reasons for the dysfunction and shortcomings of the cooperation. More flexibility in the allocation, management and distribution of resources among the various instruments should be considered. Political dialogue has 10 be joined by policy dialogue. Programming as an instrument of this dialogue should be maintained but the rigidity of the present system should be lessened. Tighter coordination among donors and among EU-member states and the Commission and tighter integration of the various development-policy instruments should bring advantages not only for member states.
