JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN, CARRIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE OTHER PART

MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY, 18 MARCH 2014

2014/C 345/02

Contents

MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY, 18 MARCH 2014

The sitting opened at 9.05 a.m.

IN THE CHAIR: Fitz A. JACKSON

Co-President

1.   Renewables and climate change: human and technological challenges for the ACP countries — Greek and European experience

Exchange of views with Kyriakos Gerontopoulos, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Greece

Kyriakos Gerontopoulos, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, gave a presentation on the subject of renewables and climate change.

Speakers: Gay Mitchell, Picewell Forbes (Bahamas), Norbert Neuser, Olle Schmidt, Abdourahamane Chegou (Niger), Komi Selom Klassou (Togo), Makhosini Hlongwane (Zimbabwe), Christa Klaß, Nita R. K. Deerpalsing (Mauritius) and Ana Rita Geremias Sithole (Mozambique).

Members called for greater investment both in renewable energies and in preventive measures such as disaster risk reduction and the fight against climate change. They called for better coordination between the European Union and the actions of its individual Member States in order to optimise the use of resources. It was also suggested that university exchange programmes and twinning arrangements should be developed in order to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and know-how.

Mr Gerontopoulos wound up the debate.

2.   Workshop — summary report

The rapporteur, Arnaldo Álvaro Ramos (Cape Verde), reported orally on the workshop ‘Supporting private sector development and promoting investments in renewable energy sources in ACP countries’.

This workshop examined innovative financing and technological solutions as well as best practices aimed at bridging the energy gap by tapping the potential of renewable energy sources.

Speaker: Co-President Fitz A. Jackson.

3.   Mining for oil and minerals on the seabed in the context of sustainable development

Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment

Co-rapporteurs: Joe Koim Komun (Papua New Guinea) and Christa Klaß

Joe Koim Komun (Papua New Guinea) and Horst Schnellhardt (replacing Christa Klaß) presented the report.

Speakers: Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (Ghana), Jutta Haug, Dharamkumar Seeraj (Guyana), Olle Schmidt, Ousmane Kaba (Guinea), Mohamed El Moctar Zamel (Mauritania), Carlos Manuel (Mozambique), Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell (Samoa), Peter Štastný, Ibrahim Bundu (Sierra Leone), Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Maria Fernanda Lay (Timor Leste), Nita R. K. Deerpalsing (Mauritius) and Armando Astudillo González (European Commission).

Members noted the opportunities and challenges of mining for oil and minerals on the seabed. They emphasised the contribution of the report to shaping this emerging field and the need for national parliaments to develop regulatory frameworks that ensure utmost respect for environmental standards, as well as the transparency of exploitation contracts and the return of revenues to local communities. Members emphasised that capacity development, training and technology transfers are essential to ensure that mining activities on the seabed contribute to sustainable development.

Joe Koim Komun (Papua New Guinea) wound up the debate.

4.   The fight against AIDS

Keynote debate

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), gave a presentation on the state of play regarding the fight against AIDS.

Speakers: Mariya Gabriel, Michael Cashman, Achille Marie Joseph Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Nathalie Griesbeck, Dambert René Ndouane (Republic of Congo), Musa Hussein Naib (Eritrea), Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (Ghana), Michel Sidibé, Picewell Forbes (Bahamas), Abdikadir Omar Aden (Kenya), Louis Michel, Abdourahamane Chegou (Niger), Horst Schnellhardt, Mohammed Mukhtar Ahmed (Nigeria), Gay Michell, Ibrahim Bundu (Sierra Leone), Komi Selom Klassou (Togo), Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda), Kennedy K. Hamudulu (Zambia), Makhosini Hlongwane (Zimbabwe), Nita R. K. Deerpalsing (Mauritius) and Christophe Apala Pen’Apala Lutundula (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Members commended the efforts of the global fight against HIV/AIDS under the leadership and vision of UNAIDS. Hailed as a success story of global solidarity, the campaign is a testimony to the increase in domestic resources and commitment, leadership and global grassroots activism. Members emphasised that the active engagement of young generations, information initiatives, effective prevention and access to treatment fall, including the most vulnerable populations, are key to securing further progress to make the goal of zero new infections a reality. An animated debate took place on the controversial issue of the laws in Uganda and Nigeria discriminating against certain minority groups, including homosexuals. Almost all members reiterated their support for tolerance for legislative choices of their individual countries taking into account cultural diversity. Others feared that any act that leads to stigmatisation can jeopardise access to treatment and care and all efforts to put an end to the epidemic.

Michel Sidibé answered the questions raised by members.

(The sitting closed at 1.05 p.m. and resumed at 3.00 p.m.)

IN THE CHAIR: Louis MICHEL

Co-President

5.   Statement by Andris Piebalgs, Member of the European Commission with responsibility for development

Mr Piebalgs assessed the progress achieved since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals. He commended the work of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and the valuable contribution of the ACP states to shaping the post-2015 framework. Mr Piebalgs recalled that while, in a rapidly and profoundly changing global context, many countries had achieved growth, many others were still struggling to develop. The European Union provided support through significant cooperation funding. Its Agenda for Change and its commitment to policy coherence allowed aid to be focused on poorer countries. Equally, universal values such as non-discrimination needed to be upheld. The Commissioner called for an open dialogue on divisive issues in this respect in testimony of the maturity of the ACP-EU partnership.

6.   Debate with Andris Piebalgs, Member of the European Commission with responsibility for development (‘catch-the-eye’ procedure)

The exchange of views focussed on topics including: EU-Cuba relations; rights of sexual minorities under the Cotonou Agreement; the effectiveness of development projects; support for SMEs and enhancing property ownership in the context of sustainable development goals; the importance of infrastructure and transition to green energy; private sector support and job creation; financing for small agricultural producers; the future potential of agri-banking; and the challenge of attracting larger-scale investments by smaller countries.

Speakers: Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez, Michael Cashman, Mohamed El Moctar Zamel (Mauritania), Gay Mitchell, Horst Schnellhardt, Arnaldo Andrade Ramos (Cape Verde), Dalton Tagelagi (Niue), Ahamada Soukouna (Mali), Ousmane Kaba (Guinea) and Nita R. K. Deerpalsing (Mauritius).

Commissioner Piebalgs answered the questions raised by members according to the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure.

7.   Question Time to the European Commission

A total of 16 questions were put to the European Commission.

The Commission had previously replied to the questions in writing. Commissioner Piebalgs gave oral replies to the supplementary questions posed by the following members:

The authors of Questions 1, 3 and 4 had no supplementary questions.

The authors of Questions 2, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were not present.

8.   Action taken by the European Commission on the resolutions adopted at the 26th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

A document concerning the follow-up to the resolutions adopted in Addis Ababa had been transmitted to the Assembly. The Co-President thanked Andris Piebalgs, member of the European Commission with responsibility for development, for his conscientious work and profound commitment throughout his five-year-long mandate.

9.   The global spread of terrorism: the role of the internet and social media

Co-rapporteurs: Moses Kollie (Liberia) and Zita Gurmai

Moses Kollie (Liberia) and Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (replacing Zita Gurmai) presented the report.

Members underlined the importance of the internet and social networks as tools with a huge potential to benefit societies in both ACP and EU countries. However, they stated that these tools are being abused by a small number of people to propagate extremist ideologies and organise terrorist attacks. Members called for the strengthening of international cooperation to prevent further online criminal activities. They warned against governments using the threat of terrorism as a pretext to limit fundamental freedoms. The challenge is to draw up and implement legislation of a balanced nature which allows terrorism to be fought effectively while safeguarding privacy rights and legitimate political activities.

Speakers: Boniface Yehouetome (Benin), Mariya Gabriel, Mohamed Youssouf Goumaneh (Djibouti), Abadula Gemeda Dago (Ethiopia), Olle Schmidt, Abdikadir Omar Aden (Kenya), Mohamed El Moctar Zamel (Mauritania), Mohammed Mukhtar Ahmed (Nigeria), Michael Gahler, Abdirizak Osman Hassan (Somalia), Mahamat Togoi Tekilio (Chad), Makhosini Hlongwane (Zimbabwe) and Vincent Ringenberg (EEAS).

Moses Kollie (Liberia) and Miguel Ángel Martínez Martínez wound up the debate.

10.   Report on the 11th Regional Meeting (Eastern African Region) held in Port Louis (Mauritius) from 12 to 14 February 2014 — report by the Co-Presidents

Co-President Fitz A. Jackson reported orally on the regional meeting, highlighting the main topics discussed.

Members thanked and congratulated Mauritius for the successful organisation of the meeting. They expressed their satisfaction at the debates, which had focused, inter alia, on the importance of regional integration, the threat of terrorism and piracy, and sugar production in ACP countries.

Speakers: Christa Klaß, Co-President Louis Michel, Nita R. K. Deerpalsing (Mauritius), Miguel Ángel Martínez Martínez and Co-President Fitz A. Jackson.

(The sitting closed at 17.35 p.m.)