The British Government's proposal to develop the ECU gradually into a "hard" European currency has begun to be viewed in a more positive light. What principles are at the heart of this proposal? Does a "hard" ECU have advantages over the existing ECU? What are its chances as a parallel currency?

The Lomé Convention with its 63 signatory states in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) represents the centre-piece of the EC's development policy. The current agreement, Lomé II, expires on February 28, 1985, and negotiations on Lomé III already began in Luxembourg on October 6,...

Negotiations for an extension of the Lomé Convention of February 28, 1975 (Lomé I) began - almost unnoticed by the public - on July 24, 1978. An analysis of the experiences with the Lomé Convention and the demands and amendments presented by the contracting parties is offered in the following...