Unlike DG RELEX, where the Commission services oversee all the stages in the drafting of CSPs and RSPs, in DG Development, leadership over the drafting process of the CSPs is exercised jointly by the Commission services, represented on the ground by the Delegations, and the partner governments, represented in ACP countries by the National Authorising Officers (NAOs).

Regarding the updating and revision of the analysis, which in DG RELEX is the result of both the work carried out by teams of consultants and the drafting of the Concept notes, in ACP countries this is the responsibility of both the delegations and of the NAOs.

Similarly, the process of consultations and the drafting of the CSP documents themselves is a joint exercise carried out by the Commission in collaboration with the partner governments. As laid down in the Cotonou Agreement, signed by both the Commission and all the ACP countries, “the CSP shall be prepared by the ACP State concerned and the EU following consultations with a wide range of actors in the development process, and shall draw on lessons learned and best practices”.

With regards to the NIPs, these are drafted by each ACP State and revised by the Commission. According to the Cotonou Agreement, “each ACP State shall draw up and submit to the Community a draft indicative programme on the basis of and consistent with its development objectives and priorities as expressed in the CSP.

The draft indicative programme shall be subject of an exchange of views between the ACP State concerned and the Community. The indicative programme shall be adopted by common agreement between the Community and the ACP State concerned. It shall, when adopted, be binding on both the Community and the State. This indicative programme shall be annexed to the CSP”.

The drafting process of the new generation of CSPs and RSPs for ACP countries and regions is due to start in late 2005 or early 2006.