Within the context of the successive Lomé Conventions, Dominica has automatically accessed the 6th, 7th and 8th European Development Fund (EDF) under the NIP instrument. In June 2000, the new EU-ACP arrangement the "Cotonou Agreement" was signed and the 9th European Development Fund established. The Eco-tourism Development Programme is currently being funded under the 8th EDF. The 9th EDF carries with it a greater emphasis on effective and efficient disbursement of resources, where the recipient state must ensure funds are effectively committed, disbursed and implemented at the risk of losing allocations to other more 'efficient' ACP countries. Programming for the post 9th EF will begin in 2006.