MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY, 20 JUNE 2006

(2006/C 307/02)

(The sitting opened at 9.25 a.m.)

IN THE CHAIR: Mrs KINNOCK

Co-President

1.   Substitutes

The Co-President announced the following substitutes: van den Berg (for Dobolyi), Evans (for Ferreira), Fernández Martín (for López-Istúriz White), Goebbels (for Bullman), Mauro (for Sartori) and Morgantini (for Wurtz).

2.   Accreditation of non-parliamentary representatives

The accreditation of Mr José Amorim, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the European Union, was approved.

3.   Co-President's announcements

The Co-President welcomed the new ACP Co-President, Mr René Radembino-Coniquet from Gabon.

4.   Report by Mrs Nita K. Rajeshree Deerpalsing (Mauritius) and Mr Nirj Deva, on behalf of the Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade, on the problematics of energy in the ACP countries (ACP-EU 3765/06/fin.)

Mrs Deerpalsing (Mauritius) and Mr Deva presented their report.

Dr Hasan M. Qabazard, Director, Research Division of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), made a statement.

Speakers: Berend, Sebetela (Botswana), Goebbels, Cornillet, Bawa Bwari (Nigeria), Schlyter, Mporogomyi (Tanzania), Lulling, Mugambe (Uganda), van den Berg, Hall, François (St Lucia), Duguid (Barbados), Theodorakis (European Commission), Bounkoulou (Congo) and Qabazard (OPEC).

Mrs Deerpalsing (Mauritius) and Mr Deva wound up the debate.

5.   Urgent topic 2: The situation in the Sudan

The Co-President reported on the situation in the Sudan.

Speakers: Garang Deng (Sudan), Gahler, Hay Webster (Jamaica), Schröder, Bounkoulou (Congo), Gomes, Van Hecke, Bawa Bwari (Nigeria), Schmidt, Top (Guinea), Straker (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), van den Berg, Kaguer Darbo (Chad), Hall, Mauro and Theodorakis (European Commission). Mr Garang Deng replied to certain points raised.

(The sitting closed at 12.48 p.m. and resumed at 3.07 p.m.)

IN THE CHAIR: Glenys KINNOCK

Co-President

6.   Debate (without resolution) on the state of the negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements and the Doha Round

Dame Billie made her statement.

Commissioner Mandelson made his statement

Nine questions specifically related to trade had not been answered by Commissioner Michel during Question Time on 19 June 2006, as these were to be answered by Commissioner Mandelson.

Mr Mandelson replied to the questions in writing and gave oral replies to the supplementary questions by the following authors:

Question No 14 by Mrs Willmot (for Mrs McAvan) on the banana import tariff;

Question No 17 by Ambassador d'Offay (for Mr Faure (Seychelles)) on tuna;

Question No 19 by Ambassador Tiheli (for Mr Metsing Mothejoa (Lesotho)) on Lesotho;

Question No 20 by Mr Assarid Imbarcaouane (Mali) on Economic Partnership Agreements (West Africa);

Question No 22 by Mr Mitchell on Economic Partnership Agreements.

The authors of Questions Nos 21, 23, 24 and 25 were not present.

Speakers: Hay Webster, Martens, Sebetela (Botswana), Sturdy, Oumarou Malam (Niger), Jardim Fernandes, Lulling, Duguid (Barbados), Deerpalsing (Mauritius), Van Lancker and Kinnock.

Dame Billie and Commissioner Mandelson replied to points raised during the debate.

IN THE CHAIR: Mr René RADEMBINO-CONIQUET

Co-President

7.   Report of the economic and social partners on the involvement and expectations of civil society in the EPAs

Mr Vever, President of the ACP-EU Follow-up Committee, made his presentation.

8.   Report by Mr Johan Van Hecke and Mr Ateem Garang Deng (Sudan), on behalf of the Committee on Political Affairs, on the role of regional integration in the promotion of peace and security (ACP-EU 3850/06/fin.)

Mr Van Hecke and Mr Garang Deng (Sudan) presented their report.

Speakers: Akpovi (Benin), Mayer, Bounkoulou (Congo), Jöns, Morgantini, Bountourabi (Guinea) and Theodorakis (European Commission).

Mr Garang Deng (Sudan) and Mr Van Hecke (co-rapporteurs) replied to points raised during the debate.

(The sitting closed at 6.30 p.m.)