Timor Leste signed up to the Cotonou Agreement in 2005. The Partnership Agreement comprises members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States - of which Timor-Leste is now part - and the EU and its Member States.
It focuses on three main areas:
- Political cooperation
- Development cooperation
- Economic and trade cooperation
Its ultimate goal is to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty and integrate the ACP countries into the world economy.
There is also a special emphasis on conflict resolution and peace building.
Several joint institutions were set up to ensure the agreement is run properly:
- The ACP-EU Council of Ministers
- The ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors
- The joint Parliamentary Assembly
The agreement started in 2000 and lasts until 2020.
A Political Dialogue, as foreseen in article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement, is held regularly.