JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN 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, 14 JUNE 2016

(2016/C 451/02)

Contents

MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY, 14 JUNE 2016

(The sitting opened at 9.15)

IN THE CHAIR: Michèle RIVASI

Acting Co-President

1.   Statement by Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (the Netherlands), President-in-Office of the EU Council

Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (the Netherlands), President-in-Office of the EU Council, stressed the landmark achievements in 2015: the 2030 Agenda and the new Sustainable Development Goals, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development, and COP 21, the new global agreement on climate change. The time had now come to implement and monitor these agendas and commitments, which must be reflected in the EU’s policies, both internal and external.

The President-in-Office called for continued and strengthened EU-ACP cooperation on joint future challenges, particularly stressing migration, peace and security, and trade. The EU was assessing the achievements and weaknesses of the Cotonou Agreement, preparing options for the future ACP-EU partnership framework with the aim of presenting its recommendations towards the end of 2016. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly was one of the key fora in this process, and all ideas contributing to the building of a future modern and equal partnership were welcome.

2.   Statement by Ingrid Olga Ghislaine Ebouka-Babackas, Minister of Planning, Statistics and Regional Integration (Republic of the Congo), President-in-Office of the ACP Council

Ingrid Olga Ghislaine Ebouka-Babackas, Minister of Planning, Statistics and Regional Integration (Republic of the Congo), President-in-Office of the ACP Council, outlined the ACP process in preparing future ACP-EU relations. The report by the Eminent Persons Group presented to the 8th ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, held from 30 May to 1 June 2016, called for strengthened ACP-EU relations and highlighted a number of future ACP challenges, including the 2030 Agenda and finding adequate resources to finance it, the promotion of strong, inclusive and fair economic growth, migration, threats to stability and security, and the negative impact of illicit financial flows. The speaker further focused on multilateral as well as ACP-EU trade issues, notably the need for more flexible requirements in the Economic Partnership Agreements to enable Least Developed Countries to accede to them. The ACP Group wished to see the European Development Fund maintained and ACP-EU relations deepened and strengthened, and also believed the ACP Group should build further on south-south and triangular cooperation.

3.   Question Time to the Council

13 questions were put to the ACP Council and 13 to the EU Council.

Ingrid Olga Ghislaine Ebouka-Babackas replied on behalf of the ACP Council to the following question and a supplementary question:

The following questions were answered but not followed by a supplementary question:

The authors of questions 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 were not present.

Lilianne Ploumen replied on behalf of the EU Council to the following questions and supplementary questions:

The following question was answered but not followed by a supplementary question:

The authors of questions 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25 and 26 were not present.

4.   Debate with the Council – catch-the-eye

Speakers: Norbert Neuser, Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, Agathon Rwasa (Burundi), Michael Gahler, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Jean Marie Kilosho Bulambo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Magnus Kofi Amoatey (Ghana), Maria Arena, Babiker Mohamed Toum (Sudan), Sithembile Mlotshwa (Zimbabwe), Netty Baldeh (Gambia), Michèle Rivasi and Jomo Mfanawemakhosi Dlamini (Swaziland).

Members focused mainly on trade and the Economic Partnership Agreements, asking about safeguards, financial support for adaptation, capacity building and customs revenue losses. Other issues raised included future ACP-EU relations, the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, political dialogue with Burundi, illicit financial flows and the electrification of Africa.

5.   A continental free trade area for Africa — prospects for fostering intra-African trade and potential benefits for the ACP

Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade

Co-rapporteurs: Jean-Marie Bulambo (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Marielle de Sarnez

Jean Marie Bulambo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Petr Ježek (replacing Marielle de Sarnez) presented the report.

Speakers: Michael Gahler, Agathon Rwasa (Burundi), Louis-Joseph Manscour, Tesfaye Daba Wakjira (Ethiopia), Pavel Telička, Maria Heubuch, Piernicola Pedicini, Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, Sir Louis H. Straker (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Francesc Gambus, Babiker Mohamed Toum (Sudan), Maria Arena, Gberi Kombo (Cameroon), Marlene Mizzi and Domenico Rosa (European Commission).

Members considered the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) for Africa to be a very ambitious project that will need a strong political commitment from the countries involved. It represented a good opportunity for Africa to enhance intra-African trade in order to increase economic growth, as free trade is also a powerful tool to fight poverty. However, it was stressed that liberalism and the market economy should also enable growth to result in redistribution of a fair nature. The construction of Europe — the European project had also started out as a trade and economic community — should serve as an example for the CFTA. Some concerns were expressed over the opening of borders and the negative effects of liberalism on developing economies.

Jean Marie Bulambo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Petr Ježek wound up the debate.

6.   Report on the 12th regional meeting (Southern Africa) held in Gaborone (Botswana) from 20 to 22 April 2016 – report by the Co-Presidents

Acting Co-President Michèle Rivasi gave an oral report on the 12th regional meeting, highlighting the main topics discussed.

Speakers: Co-President Netty Baldeh (Gambia), Gilbert Shimane Mangole (Botswana) and Juan Fernando López Aguilar

Members thanked and congratulated Botswana for the successful organisation of the meeting. The debates focused on, inter alia, the importance of regional integration, migration, management of natural resources, energy and sexual violence. The two workshops on vulnerable children and the meteorological centre were particularly appreciated.

7.   Co-Presidents’ announcements, including decisions taken at the Bureau meeting of 12 June 2016 (continuation)

Acting Co-President Rivasi reported on the following decision taken by the Bureau at its meeting of 12 June 2016.

The standing committees would draft the following reports:

(The sitting adjourned at 12.36 and resumed at 15.08)

IN THE CHAIR: Netty BALDEH

Co-President

8.   Urgent topic No 1: The pre-electoral and security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Speakers: Vicky Katumwa Mukalay (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Maria Arena, Kristin de Peyron (European External Action Service), Joachim Zeller, Alpha Ousmane (Burkina Faso), Abdoulaye Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Javier Nart, Ahamada Soukouna (Mali), Michèle Rivasi, Isabella Adinolfi, Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, Joyce Laboso (Kenya), Michael Gahler, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Maria Noichl and Jo Leinen.

Members unanimously welcomed the agreement reached on a compromise resolution, and stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for its population and for the entire Great Lakes region. They also stressed the need to respect and comply with all the basic principles of democracy, human rights and rule of law, and to protect Congolese citizens. In this connection, they called for an inclusive, democratic and focused political dialogue leading to free, transparent and open elections in a peaceful political and social environment. Elections should coincide with the end of the incumbent President’s mandate, in order not to endanger the country’s democratic progress.

Members expressed concern over continuing human rights abuses, increasing political violence and a worsening context for basic freedoms, deemed crucial in a pre-electoral situation, including freedom of expression, association and assembly.

9.   Improving participatory governance through decentralisation and strengthening local governance

Committee on Political Affairs

Co-rapporteurs: James Kembi-Gitura (Kenya) and Aymeric Chauprade

Arne Gericke (replacing Aymeric Chauprade) and Joyce Laboso (replacing James Kembi-Gitura (Kenya)) presented the report.

Speakers: Isabella Adinolfi, Francesc Gambus, Alpha Ousmane (Burkina Faso), Carlos Zorrinho, Agathon Rwasa (Burundi), Neena Gill, Peter Ježek, Tesfaye Daba Wakjira (Ethiopia), Worlea Saywah Dunah (Liberia), Bodil Valero, Ahamada Soukouna (Mali), Ousmane Kaba (Guinea), Amadou Dioffo (Niger), Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Davor Ivo Stier, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Louis H. Straker, Joachim Zeller, Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Babiker Mohamed Toum (Sudan) and Domenico Rosa (European Commission).

During the debate, acting Co-President Michèle Rivasi ceded the chair to

Cécile Kashetu Kyenge.

Members largely recognised subsidiarity as an important element of democratic governance, facilitating civic participation at local level. Decentralised government should be carefully designed and should include minorities, women and youth and take into account local needs. To ensure a sufficient degree of autonomy, local authorities should also be allocated the necessary means, both from direct financing from the central level and by being competent for raising taxes under their own responsibility. Members agreed that decentralisation can follow different models. Members from several ACP countries explained how decentralisation is implemented in their country. It was stressed that EU development aid should also reach and involve local entities and populations in programming, rather than relying exclusively on the central government.

Joyce Laboso (Kenya) wound up the debate.

10.   Summary reports from the workshops

Norbert Neuser gave an oral report on the workshop on ‘Renewable Energy: Creating our sustainable future’. He noted that currently Namibia imported 66 % of its energy and that it had adopted a rural electrification master plan, envisaging harnessing the huge potential for renewable energy, including biomass, wind and increased use of solar power.

Uladi Mussa (Malawi) gave an oral report on the workshop on ‘Conservancies as a tool to promote sustainable livelihoods’, which had provided first-hand information on Namibia’s community-based natural resource management which involves local communities in wildlife protection and tourism development and provides support to subsistence farmers and herders negatively affected by wild animals.

IN THE CHAIR: Michèle RIVASI

Acting Co-President

Speaker: Juan Fernando López Aguilar.

11.   The impact of the drop in the price of oil and other strategic commodities on ACP economies

Speakers: Domenico Rosa (European Commission), Abdoulaye Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Carlos Zorrinho, Ousmane Kaba (Guinea), Jean Christophe Owono Nguema (Gabon), Worlea Saywah Dunah (Liberia), Malement Lihasoa (Madagascar), Maria Heubuch, Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), Michael Gahler, A Misiekaba (Suriname), Purmanund Jhugroo (Mauritius), Theodor D. Stolojan, Jo Leinen and Michèle Rivasi.

Members discussed the impact of the sharp decrease in prices of raw materials, and oil in particular, on ACP countries, and highlighted their differing effects. The negative impact for oil-exporting countries and knock-on effects were highlighted, while some Members also pointed to the positive effects of cheaper imports. Most agreed that commodity price volatility was a risk to the stability of many ACP countries and that it once again demonstrated the need to diversify and upscale ACP economies to processing of raw materials and manufacturing and to reduce dependence on oil in both producing and importing countries in order to adapt to longer-term trends and climate change.

12.   Urgent topic No 2: Rape and violence against women and children in armed conflicts

Speakers: Kristin de Peyron (European External Action Service), Davor Ivo Stier, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Arne Gericke, Pavel Telička, Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Mémounatou Ibrahima (Togo), Bodil Valero, Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), Laura Agea, Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, Purmanund Jhugroo (Mauritius), Krzyszyof Hetman, Maria Noichl, Neena Gill and Michèle Rivasi.

Members condemned rape and violence against women and children, and called for stronger measures to protect potential victims, end impunity by bringing perpetrators to justice, combat stigmatisation of victims, and ensure the provision of medical, legal and psychological assistance and care to victims. The occasional involvement of peacekeepers in acts of sexual abuse was also addressed. Strongly divergent views were expressed on the question of the right of rape victims to have the option of safe abortion.

(The sitting closed at 18.51)