Instead, organisations that had close links with the clients were given preference as contractors or contracting partners.

We can choose our contracting partners, but we cannot choose our neighbours.

This turns on its head the approach that has been taken up to now where the contracting partners define the areas that they actively want to open.

I would like to underline the fact that the current text strikes a balance between the necessary protection of workers and the autonomy of the social partners, as contracting partners.

The contracting partners on the Ahanta side were Cubiesang, Aloiny, Ampatee and Maniboy, "chiefs of the Country Anta".

The contracting parties are agreed that, in connection with the establishment of German unity, international treaties of the GDR shall be discussed with the contracting partners concerned.

It goes without saying that it is not the European Community's business to set the boundaries of a state, but it is its business to agree with its contracting partners over the area of application of the agreements it makes.

The contracting partners on the Axim side were the "caboceers" (chiefs) of Axim, presumably represented by the two paramount chiefs of the state, also the signatories of the treaty, Atty Ansi and Peter Agoey.

In fact, the bulk of Justice Souter's 72-page opinion was a detailed dismantling of the Government's arguments, which he said would actually have been "at odds with the Government's own long-run interest as a reliable contracting partner" had the Court accepted them.

That is a pity because, as far as I can see, that is the main issue, especially in view of the fact that one large country, one contracting partner, is saying we want to be able to buy ourselves out of all our emissions obligations.