LES ACCORDS DE COTONOU ET LA COOPERATION DECENTRALISEE EN AFRIQUE SUBSAHARIENNE THE COTONOU AGREEMENTS AND DECENTRALIZED COOPERATION IN SUB-SAHARIAN AFRICA

The cooperation between Europe and Africa has an old history but its efficiency can be questioned. The First part of this paper explains the history and defines the five principles of the decentralized cooperation. In the second part, we analyse the systemic links between the two main actors of this cooperation: the European Union and sub-saharian Africa. Finally, in the third part, we recommend the implementation of an efficient policy to support the private sector (notably SMEs) in sub-saharian Africa, from a Southern point of view. © Laboratoire de Recherche sur l’Industrie et l’Innovation Universite du Littoral Cote d’Opale, novembre 2006