How does the crisis affect ACP-EU cooperation?
The food crisis in 2008 and the financial crisis in 2009 highlighted the need for flexibility and the necessary capacity to help ACP States cope with unforeseen events. The new agreement provides for clarified grounds to readapt the strategies in view of unexpected circumstances. In addition, the Partnership Agreement paves the way towards a new counter-cyclical FLEX instrument to support ACP States faced to the adverse effects of exogenous shocks.