A/HRC/12/WG.2/TF/2 page 6 3. Economic Commission for Africa/Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development –Development Assistance Committee Mutual Review of Development Effectiveness 18. The presentation by OECD focused on the purposes, key features and recent developments of the Mutual Review of Development Effectiveness process. For the past three years, OECD and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in close collaboration with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Secretariat, conducted the second review, the result of which was submitted in a summary report to the NEPAD Heads of State and Government at the African Union Summit in January 2009. Key future priorities for Africa and its partners included continued efforts on political and economic reform, focus on growth and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and acceleration of regional integration. For development partners, it is important to ensure delivery on existing commitments made on aid volume and aid effectiveness. OECD noted the importance of supporting Africa’s interest in negotiations on trade and climate change and stronger African representation in international policymaking processes. 4. Cotonou Agreement 19. In its presentation, the European Commission highlighted the key priorities of the Cotonou Agreement, including poverty eradication and sustainable development and its consistency with the right to development and human rights approach to development. With regard to the economic partnership agreements, the European Commission clarified several points to dispel misconceptions and factual inaccuracies, including as reflected in the study by a task force consultant (A/HRC/12/WG.2/TF/CRP.3). Despite the lack of explicit reference, the European Commission was of the view that the economic partnership agreements sometimes build on the right to development through reference to good governance, rule of law, social dialogue, cooperation with social partners, cooperative decision making, observance by both sides of core labour conventions and environmental provisions. 20. Mr. Schrijver reported on the technical mission conducted by the task force on 25 and 26 March 2009 in Brussels and on the valuable discussions held at the Directorates for Development and Trade, Europe Aid, as well as with individual experts and representatives of non governmental organizations. Regrettably, the task force was unable to meet with the African, Caribbean and Pacific States secretariat and members and thus aimed to conduct the second part of the mission before the end of April in order to include their views in the assessment of the Cotonou Agreement. During the mission, the task force noted the concern of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, experts and non-governmental organizations representatives with respect to (a) the actual decision-making power among partners of the Cotonou Agreement; (b) the possible negative impact on the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries of the waiver of their treatment more preferable than the generalized system of trade preference; and (c) coherence in European Union policies in development, trade, agriculture, fisheries and human rights. Mr. Schrijver agreed with the European Commission on the positive aspects of the Cotonou Agreement as well as the relation between the economic partnership agreements and the Cotonou Agreement in that the latter provides an umbrella agreement in integration of human rights.