Finland asks its Parliament to approve the Samoa Agreement between the EU and ACP states

1 October 2026

The Finnish Government proposed that Parliament approve the partnership agreement between the European Union and its member states on one side and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States on the other. The agreement, known as the Samoa Agreement, was signed in Samoa in November 2023. It succeeds the Cotonou Agreement, which has expired. The agreement covers democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth, climate issues, human development, peace and security, and migration. Unlike its predecessor, the new agreement does not contain provisions on development financing. The release describes the agreement as a platform for dialogue between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and a legal framework for the operations of the European Investment Bank in all ACP countries.