Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the agreement on the Bakassi Peninsula

The European Union welcomes the signing of the agreement between Cameroon and Nigeria concerning the modalities of withdrawal and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula, on 12 June.

The European Union congratulates Nigeria and Cameroon for their commitment to implement by peaceful means the judgment of the International Court of Justice of 10 October 2002 thereby giving an inspiring example for the peaceful settlement of differences in accordance with international law.

The European Union commends the United Nations and in particular Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his regional representative Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, for their efforts to reach a peaceful settlement of this issue.

The European Union is confident that the successive transfer of sovereignty over the Western part of the peninsula, while respecting the rights of Nigerian nationals, will be carried as agreed. It encourages Cameroon and Nigeria to ensure that the agreement is implemented within the timeframes agreed upon, and reiterates its support to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.