South Centre

A South IGO

The South Centre (the Centre) is an intergovernmental organization of developing countries established by an Intergovernmental Agreement (Treaty) which came into force on 31 July 1995 with its headquarters in Geneva.

The South Centre has grown out of the work and experience of the South Commission and its follow-up mechanism, and from recognition of the need for enhanced South-South co-operation. The Report of the South Commission -- emphasized that the South is not well organized at the global level and has thus not been effective in mobilizing its considerable combined expertise and experience, nor its bargaining power.

The South Centre is therefore intended to meet the need for analysis of development problems and experience, as well as to provide intellectual and policy support required by developing countries for collective and individual action, particularly in the international arena.

South Centre's Press Conference at the UN on the Global Economic Crisis and the UN Conference

New South Centre Event

The South Centre held a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday 22 June 2009, on the global economic crisis. The Centre's Executive Director briefed the media on the Centre's views on the key issues for the UN conference on the global financial crisis, from the perspective of developing countries. The UN department of information issued a report on the press conference.

The Cotonou Partnership Agreement, the Economic Partnership Agreements and WTO Compatibility: Can Initialed Interim EPAs be Notified?

South Centre Analytical Note, June 2009

This Analytical Note analyses the legal status of the interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) under WTO law. This is because most of the EPAs thus far initialed are interim agreements. It is thus important to understand the legal status of these interim agreements under article XXIV of GATT. The Note concludes that ACP states that have initialed interim EPAs do not need to sign in order for the interim EPAs to be notified to the WTO. Secondly asymmetrical trade liberalization is perfectly legitimate in an interim EPA with a lengthy transitional period.

Negotiating Services Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the European Union: Some Issues for Developing Countries to Consider

South Centre Analytical Note, June 2009

This Analytical Note explores the options available to developing countries in negotiating agreements establishing Free Trade Areas (FTAs) involving a trade in services component with the European Union (EU). It examines the issues that are challenging for development in the EU proposals which include amongst other things the EU negotiating template, Mode 4 limitations, the domestic regulatory framework and the MFN clause. Secondly it identifies the options available to developing countries. These include cooperation arrangements with the EU, respect for regional initiatives, recognition of special treatment for LDCs and retaining the GATS architecture and flexibilities.

South Bulletin: Reflections and Foresights ( Issue 37, 6 June 2009 ) - Key Issues in the Policy Response to the Economic Crisis: South Centre’s View

The focus of this issue is on the policy measures and international actions needed to assist developing countries in facing the global economic crisis. The South Centre has produced a major paper on this theme, and the Bulletin provides a summary. This issue of the Bulletin also publishes a statement made by the Chair of the G77 and China at the opening phase of the negotiations in New York to prepare for the UN Conference on the financial and economic crisis and its effects on development. The Conference will be held on 24-26 June.

Historical Responsibility As a Guide to Future Action in Climate Change

Mr. Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Centre, gave a presentation on the concept of historical responsibility as a guide to future action on climate during the technical briefing on the same topic organized by the Chair of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) on Thursday, 4 June 2009, during the 8th session of the AWG-LCA in Bonn, Germany.

Policy Response to the Global Financial Crisis: Key Issues for Developing Countries

New South Centre Paper

This new paper, authored by the Centre's Special Economic Advisor, Dr Yilmaz Akyuz, deals with the global financial crisis and developing countries.

The first part is on what is needed to support the required policy response in developing countries. The second part is on the required reform to the international financial architecture. A summary of policy conclusions and proposals is at the end.

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