Mr President, debates on this report in the Committee on Development and Cooperation took place in a constructive climate, and I would like to thank Members for the amendments that they tabled and that it was possible to incorporate into this report, thus improving the motion for a resolution put to you. The striking fact of 2003 was certainly that the Joint Parliamentary Assembly could return to a normal rhythm of work following the cancellation of the November 2002 session due to circumstances of which you are aware. On this issue, the result of the mission carried out by the ACP Co-President and four ACP parliamentarians in Harare should be particularly welcomed. They managed to persuade the Zimbabwean Government to agree to the head of its delegation in the Assembly no longer being someone who is covered by the Council’s restrictive measures. The ACP Co-President’s personal commitment to ensuring that only the head of the Zimbabwean delegation can take the floor during the session in Rome should also be welcomed. Aside from this important aspect, six points deserve to be mentioned as regards the work of the Assembly in 2003. The entry into force of the new Rules of Procedure allowed the debates to be better structured. The more informal organisation of Question Time with the Commission, at the sixth session in Rome, proved its worth and led to a livelier debate. It was possible to organise and carry out four joint missions in 2003. The Women’s Forum was a success both at the 5th session in Brazzaville and at the 6th session in Rome. It was possible to significantly improve and deepen cooperation between the Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the United Nations. Finally, two important reports were adopted, one on children’s rights, and those of child soldiers in particular, and the other on the use of the European Development Fund and the discussions initiated on its budgetisation. For the future, Mr President, the Committee on Development and Cooperation basically proposes to invite the Assembly and its Bureau to continue to organise Question Time to make it livelier and more informal; to re-balance the agenda of the sessions and to give more speaking time to Members of the Assembly; to ensure better continuity between sessions by strengthening the facilities of the Standing Committees; to improve the availability of documents, in particular via greater use of the Internet; to develop the role of the Assembly in the implementation of the political dialogue provided for in Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement; to continue its work on human rights through greater involvement of civil society; to make practical arrangements for sending to Zimbabwe a joint delegation, freely chosen, provided that it can move around freely and meet anyone it wishes; to develop the role of the Assembly as a forum for dialogue with the World Trade Organisation; and, finally to take into consideration the desire of Members of the Assembly that the sessions in Europe take place under good conditions, outside of the workplaces of the European Parliament. To summarise, Mr President, the Committee on Development and Cooperation gives a positive view of 2003. The difficulties of the previous year, which culminated in the cancellation of the session of November 2002, have been overcome thanks to efforts on both sides, in particular from the Co-Presidents and the Bureau of the Assembly. The latter was also able to resume a normal rhythm of work. Improvements have been made to the organisation of its work, allowing it to make its voice heard more clearly and to actively participate in the political dialogue provided for in the Cotonou Agreement. I hope, Mr President, that our Assembly will be able to adopt the report by the Committee on Development and Cooperation.

Political group: ELDR