# Official Journal C 170/30 M

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 170 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 6030 May 2017 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 170

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 6030 May 2017

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | IV   Notices |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | The 32nd session took place in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016. |
| 2017/C 170/01 | 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 Monday, 19 December 2016 | 1 |
| 2017/C 170/02 | 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, 20 December 2016 | 5 |
| 2017/C 170/03 | 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 Wednesday, 21 December 2016 | 9 |

Notice No

Contents

page

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

The 32nd session took place in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016.

2017/C 170/01

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 Monday, 19 December 2016

1

2017/C 170/02

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, 20 December 2016

5

2017/C 170/03

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 Wednesday, 21 December 2016

9

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| KEYS TO SYMBOLS USED






  - | Consultation procedure |
| --- | --- |
| *** | Consent procedure |
| ***I | Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading |
| ***II | Ordinary legislative procedure: second reading |
| ***III | Ordinary legislative procedure: third reading |

KEYS TO SYMBOLS USED

*

Consultation procedure

***

Consent procedure

***I

Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading

***II

Ordinary legislative procedure: second reading

***III

Ordinary legislative procedure: third reading

(The type of procedure is determined by the legal basis proposed in the draft act.)

ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

| AFET | Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| --- | --- |
| DEVE | Committee on Development |
| INTA | Committee on International Trade |
| BUDG | Committee on Budgets |
| CONT | Committee on Budgetary Control |
| ECON | Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs |
| EMPL | Committee on Employment and Social Affairs |
| ENVI | Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety |
| ITRE | Committee on Industry, Research and Energy |
| IMCO | Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection |
| TRAN | Committee on Transport and Tourism |
| REGI | Committee on Regional Development |
| AGRI | Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development |
| PECH | Committee on Fisheries |
| CULT | Committee on Culture and Education |
| JURI | Committee on Legal Affairs |
| LIBE | Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs |
| AFCO | Committee on Constitutional Affairs |
| FEMM | Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality |
| PETI | Committee on Petitions |
| DROI | Subcommittee on Human Rights |
| SEDE | Subcommittee on Security and Defence |

AFET

Committee on Foreign Affairs

DEVE

Committee on Development

INTA

Committee on International Trade

BUDG

Committee on Budgets

CONT

Committee on Budgetary Control

ECON

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

EMPL

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

ENVI

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ITRE

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

IMCO

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

TRAN

Committee on Transport and Tourism

REGI

Committee on Regional Development

AGRI

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

PECH

Committee on Fisheries

CULT

Committee on Culture and Education

JURI

Committee on Legal Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

AFCO

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

FEMM

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

PETI

Committee on Petitions

DROI

Subcommittee on Human Rights

SEDE

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR POLITICAL GROUPS

| PPE | Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) |
| --- | --- |
| S&D | Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament |
| ECR | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| ALDE | Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| GUE/NGL | Confederal Group of the European United Left — Nordic Green Left |
| Verts/ALE | Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance |
| EFDD | Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group |
| NI | Non-attached Members |

PPE

Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)

S&D

Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament

ECR

European Conservatives and Reformists Group

ALDE

Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

GUE/NGL

Confederal Group of the European United Left — Nordic Green Left

Verts/ALE

Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance

EFDD

Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group

NI

Non-attached Members

| EN | |
| --- | --- |

EN

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

The 32nd session took place in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016.

| 30.5.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 170/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

30.5.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 170/1

---

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 MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2016

(2017/C 170/01)

Contents

| Formal inaugural sitting | 1 |
| --- | --- |

| Sitting of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly | 2 |
| --- | --- |

| Composition of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly | 2 |
| --- | --- |

| 1. | Adoption of agenda (AP102.053) | 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

| 2. | Approval of the minutes of the last sittings of the 31st session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (OJ C 451, 2.12.2016) | 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

| 3. | Co-Presidents’ announcements, including decisions taken at the Bureau meeting of 18 December 2016 | 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

| 4. | Statement by Neven Mimica, Member of the Commission with responsibility for international cooperation and development | 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |

4.

| 5. | Debate with Neven Mimica, Member of the Commission with responsibility for international cooperation and development — catch-the-eye | 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |

5.

| 6. | Question Time to the Commission | 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |

6.

| 7. | Action taken by the Commission on the resolutions adopted at the 31st session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly | 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |

7.

| 8. | Challenges for family farming and small-scale agriculture production in ACP countries | 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |

8.

| 9. | Report of the economic and social partners | 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |

9.

MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2016

(The sitting opened at 11.05)

Formal inaugural sitting

The following addressed the Assembly:

Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, Netty Baldeh, Co-President of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Louis Michel, Co-President of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, and Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, President of Kenya.

(The sitting adjourned at 12.30 and resumed at 15.05)

IN THE CHAIR: Netty BALDEH

Co-President

Sitting of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The Co-President welcomed all the participants.

Composition of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The Co-President announced that the list of members of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, as forwarded by the authorities of the ACP states and the European Parliament, would be annexed to the minutes.

1.   Adoption of agenda (AP102.053)

Speakers: Michael Gahler, Co-President Netty Baldeh and Cecilia Ogwal (Uganda).

The agenda was adopted as shown in these minutes.

Decision: In order to facilitate the departure of Members, efforts would be made to hold the votes on Wednesday 21 December as early as possible in the afternoon.

2.   Approval of the minutes of the last sittings of the 31st session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (OJ C 451, 2.12.2016)

The minutes were approved.

3.   Co-Presidents’ announcements, including decisions taken at the Bureau meeting of 18 December 2016

The Co-President reported on the results of the Bureau meeting of 18 December 2016.

The following decisions were taken:

| a) | The standing committees would draft the following reports: | Committee on Political Affairs







  — | Challenges in the field of the development-security nexus in ACP and EU policies |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

a)

The standing committees would draft the following reports:

Committee on Political Affairs

—

Challenges in the field of the development-security nexus in ACP and EU policies

| | Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade







  — | Blue Economy: Opportunities and Challenges for ACP States |
| --- | --- | --- |

Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade

—

Blue Economy: Opportunities and Challenges for ACP States

| | Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment







  — | Improving access to basic healthcare systems, notably to medicines against transmittable diseases. |
| --- | --- | --- |

Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment

—

Improving access to basic healthcare systems, notably to medicines against transmittable diseases.

| b) | It was confirmed that the 33rd Session of the Assembly would take place from 19 to 21 June 2017 in St Julian’s (Malta). |
| --- | --- |

b)

It was confirmed that the 33rd Session of the Assembly would take place from 19 to 21 June 2017 in St Julian’s (Malta).

| c) | The 34th Session of the Assembly would take place in the Caribbean, from 18 to 20 December 2017. |
| --- | --- |

c)

The 34th Session of the Assembly would take place in the Caribbean, from 18 to 20 December 2017.

| d) | The 13th regional meeting would take place in Freetown (Sierra Leone) from 22 to 24 February 2017. |
| --- | --- |

d)

The 13th regional meeting would take place in Freetown (Sierra Leone) from 22 to 24 February 2017.

| e) | The 14th regional meeting would take place in the Pacific region from 19 to 21 July 2017. |
| --- | --- |

e)

The 14th regional meeting would take place in the Pacific region from 19 to 21 July 2017.

| f) | A fact-finding mission to Mali and, if possible, other fact finding missions to Zimbabwe and Mauritania would be organised. |
| --- | --- |

f)

A fact-finding mission to Mali and, if possible, other fact finding missions to Zimbabwe and Mauritania would be organised.

| g) | A declaration would be issued by the Assembly on the parliamentary dimension of the Post-Cotonou ACP-EU relations. |
| --- | --- |

g)

A declaration would be issued by the Assembly on the parliamentary dimension of the Post-Cotonou ACP-EU relations.

4.   Statement by Neven Mimica, Member of the Commission with responsibility for international cooperation and development

Neven Mimica, Member of the Commission with responsibility for international cooperation and development, focused his statement on the future of the partnership between the European Union and the ACP countries after 2020 and the review of the European Consensus for Development. The preferred scenario proposed by the Commission in its recent Communication is an ACP-EU umbrella agreement, which would outline common objectives and values, complemented by regional tailored partnerships for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific in order to better address the specificities of each region. While recognising the unique nature of the Agreement, the Commissioner underlined the need to adapt it to the new global environment and the emergence of new common challenges such as climate change and migration. As negotiations between the EU and ACP will start in 2018, Commissioner Mimica invited the Assembly and the national parliaments of ACP countries to reflect on the future institutional framework and make proposals on the parliamentary dimension of the future partnership.

5.   Debate with Neven Mimica, Member of the Commission with responsibility for international cooperation and development — catch-the-eye

Speakers: Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Carlos Zorrinho, Norbert Neuser, Neven Mimica, Michèle Rivasi, Purmanund Jhugroo (Mauritius), Neena Gill, Michael Gahler, Marielle de Sarnez, Nathalie Griesbeck, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Ahamada Soukouna (Mali), Louis H. Straker (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Sangoné Sall (Senegal), Daniel K. Shumba (Zimbabwe), Joachim Zeller, Veikko Nekundi (Namibia), Babiker Mohamed Toum (Sudan), Dariusz Rosati, Mmadi Hassani Oumouri (Comoros) and Gberi Kombo (Cameroon).

The debate focused on the three communications published in November 2016 by the Commission on ‘Towards a renewed partnership with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries after 2020’, the proposal for a new European Consensus on Development and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda should guide international development efforts over the next 15 years. The importance of ensuring policy coherence for development was highlighted, as well as the need to better interlink the security, migration and development dimensions. Many questions were raised on the EU Trust Fund for Africa, EU support for combating human trafficking and the proposal for a new EU External Investment Plan as an additional contribution to the attainment of the SDGs in Africa.

Commissioner Mimica answered the questions raised by Members following the order of the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure.

6.   Question Time to the Commission

A total of 29 questions were put to the Commission.

The Commission had previously responded to the questions in writing. Commissioner Mimica gave oral replies to the supplementary questions relating to the following original questions:

| | Question 1 by Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez on the huge seabed mining project in Namibia |
| --- | --- |

Question 1 by Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez on the huge seabed mining project in Namibia

| | Oral question 7 by Catherine Bearder on the EU Wildlife Action Plan |
| --- | --- |

Oral question 7 by Catherine Bearder on the EU Wildlife Action Plan

| | Oral question 17 by Marielle de Sarnez on combating piracy |
| --- | --- |

Oral question 17 by Marielle de Sarnez on combating piracy

| | Oral question 18 by Cécile Kashetu Kyenge on the situation of President Kabila in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| --- | --- |

Oral question 18 by Cécile Kashetu Kyenge on the situation of President Kabila in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

| | Oral question 21 by Michael Gahler on the Somali refugee camp in Dadaab |
| --- | --- |

Oral question 21 by Michael Gahler on the Somali refugee camp in Dadaab

The authors of questions 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14, 16, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27 had no supplementary questions.

The authors of questions 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 25, 26, 28, 29 were not present.

7.   Action taken by the Commission on the resolutions adopted at the 31st session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The Commissioner referred to a document concerning the action taken by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the resolutions adopted by the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels in December 2015, included in the dossiers, with no further discussions on the matter.

Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment

Co-rapporteurs: Maria Heubuch and Uladi Mussa (Malawi)

Uladi Mussa (Malawi) and Michèle Rivasi (replacing Maria Heubuch) presented the report.

Speakers: Agathon Rwanda (Burundi), Anna Záborská, Emanuel Alberto Fernandes Barbosa (Cape Verde), Ole Christensen, Musa Hussein Naib (Eritrea), Arne Gericke, Abdikadir Omar Aden (Kenya), Catherine Bearder, Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez, Hermann Razafindravelo (Madagascar), Bodil Valero, Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), William Nokrach (Uganda), Tesfaye Daba (Ethiopia), Esther Herranz García, Norbert Neuser, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Francesc Gambús, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Krzysztof Hetman and Domenico Rosa (Commission).

Members reiterated that family farming and small-scale agricultural production in ACP countries remains critical in fighting poverty, providing food security and preserving biodiversity. Members recalled the numerous challenges faced by small family farming, which include access to land, capital and markets. The need for increasing public spending in agriculture was also highlighted, as the sector often suffers from insufficient investments.

Uladi Mussa (Malawi) and Michèle Rivasi wound up the debate.

Presentation by Yves Somville, Chair of the ACP Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee

Yves Somville, Chair of the ACP Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee, made a presentation on the recent and future activities of the Follow-Up Committee.

(The sitting closed at 18.47)

Netty BALDEH

Louis MICHEL

Co-Presidents

Patrick I. GOMES

Luis Marco AGUIRIANO NALDA

Co-Secretaries-General

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| 30.5.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 170/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

30.5.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 170/5

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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, 20 DECEMBER 2016

(2017/C 170/02)

Contents

| 1. | Statement by Lukáš Parízek, State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (Slovakia), President-in-Office of the EU Council | 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

| 2. | Statement by Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Consumer Affairs (Saint Kitts and Nevis), President-in-Office of the ACP Council | 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

| 3. | Question Time to the Council | 6 |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

| 4. | Debate with the Council — catch-the-eye | 6 |
| --- | --- | --- |

4.

| 5. | Constitutional limits on presidential terms | 6 |
| --- | --- | --- |

5.

| 6. | Summary reports from the workshops — catch-the-eye | 7 |
| --- | --- | --- |

6.

| 7. | Joining forces to implement the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change | 7 |
| --- | --- | --- |

7.

| 8. | The impact of illicit financial flows on development finance | 7 |
| --- | --- | --- |

8.

| 9. | The role of trade in the attainment of the SDGs | 8 |
| --- | --- | --- |

9.

MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY, 20 DECEMBER 2016

(The sitting opened at 9.20)

IN THE CHAIR: Cécile Kashetu KYENGE

Acting Co-President

1.   Statement by Lukáš Parízek, State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (Slovakia), President-in-Office of the EU Council

Lukáš Parízek, State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (Slovakia), President-in-Office of the EU Council, stressed the key role of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in enhancing democratic legitimacy and ensuring the diversity and strength of the partnership. He focused on the challenges ahead and welcomed the fact that the ACP shares the priority given by the EU to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Climate change, the link between security and development, migration policy, demographic trends and youth were further topics covered by the President-in-Office, who also underlined the need to reform joint institutions to address new challenges and to base joint efforts on the principles of solidarity, partnership and shared responsibility.

2.   Statement by Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Consumer Affairs (Saint Kitts and Nevis), President-in-Office of the ACP Council

Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Consumer Affairs (Saint Kitts and Nevis), President-in-Office of the ACP Council, outlined the ACP process of discussions on ACP-EU relations after the expiry of the Cotonou Agreement. While important geographical and political changes had taken place, the priority of eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development remained unchanged. The ACP Council had held a first discussion on the Joint Communication of the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on a renewed ACP-EU partnership and would reflect upon it carefully. He also stressed the continued commitment of the ACP Group to its relations with the EU and to staying united as a group.

3.   Question Time to the Council

14 questions were put to the ACP Council and 17 to the EU Council.

Lindsay F.P. Grant replied on behalf of the ACP Council to the following questions and supplementary questions:

| | Question 6 by Julie Ward on food security and nutrition, with specific reference to women and girls |
| --- | --- |

Question 6 by Julie Ward on food security and nutrition, with specific reference to women and girls

| | Question 9 by Arne Lietz on the Panama Papers |
| --- | --- |

Question 9 by Arne Lietz on the Panama Papers

| | Question 11 by Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez on Member State involvement in the establishment of a legally binding treaty on corporations and human rights and of an international corporate criminal court |
| --- | --- |

Question 11 by Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez on Member State involvement in the establishment of a legally binding treaty on corporations and human rights and of an international corporate criminal court

| | Question 14 by David Martin (replaced by Maria Arena) on the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. |
| --- | --- |

Question 14 by David Martin (replaced by Maria Arena) on the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The authors of questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 were not present.

Lukáš Parízek replied on behalf of the EU Council to the following questions and supplementary questions:

| | Question 17 by Cécile Kashetu Kyenge on development in the Central African Republic |
| --- | --- |

Question 17 by Cécile Kashetu Kyenge on development in the Central African Republic

| | Question 20 by David Martin (replaced by Maria Arena) on the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| --- | --- |

Question 20 by David Martin (replaced by Maria Arena) on the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

| | Question 24 by Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez on Member State involvement in the establishment of a legally binding treaty on corporations and human rights and of an international corporate criminal court |
| --- | --- |

Question 24 by Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez on Member State involvement in the establishment of a legally binding treaty on corporations and human rights and of an international corporate criminal court

| | Question 25 by Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio on child labour in Benin |
| --- | --- |

Question 25 by Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio on child labour in Benin

| | Question 29 by Julie Ward on food security and nutrition, with specific reference to women and girls |
| --- | --- |

Question 29 by Julie Ward on food security and nutrition, with specific reference to women and girls

| | Question 31 by Inama Nkenguzamateka (Burundi) on the unequal partnership between the ACP and the EU. |
| --- | --- |

Question 31 by Inama Nkenguzamateka (Burundi) on the unequal partnership between the ACP and the EU.

The author of question 19 had no supplementary question.

The authors of questions 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 30 were not present.

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

Speakers: Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Anna Záborská, Davy Yama (Central African Republic), Babiker Mohamed Toum (Sudan), Arne Lietz, Julie Ward, Catherine Bearder, Magnus Kofi Amoatey (Ghana), Joachim Zeller, Bodil Valero, Mariya Gabriel and Cécile Kashetu Kyenge.

The questions covered a wide range of topics, including Policy Coherence for Development and the Official Development Assistance commitments of EU Member States, EU cooperation with Sudan and the Central African Republic, the EU Plan on Wildlife Trafficking, the fragmentation of EU development funding and initiatives on legal migration.

IN THE CHAIR: Louis MICHEL

Co-President

Committee on Political Affairs

Co-rapporteurs: Ignazio Corrao and Tulia Ackson (Tanzania)

Tulia Ackson (Tanzania) introduced the report and outlined the ACP position on the topic.

Speakers: Pally Iriase (Nigeria), Joachim Zeller, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Mohamed Youssouf Goumaneh (Djibouti), Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Tesfaye Daba Wakjira (Ethiopia), Uladi Mussa (Malawi), Bodil Valero, Ahamada Soukouna (Mali), Mohamed El Mokhtar Zamel (Mauritania), Louis Aliot, Amadou Dioffo (Niger), Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), Mariya Gabriel, Louis H. Straker (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda), Tadeusz Zwiefka, Ibrahim Rassin Bundu (Sierra Leone), Carlos Zorrinho, Dariusz Rosati, Derek Vaughan and Kristin de Peyron (EEAS).

Members agreed that Constitutions are an expression of the will of the people and that they must therefore be respected, but can be changed if it is the people’s will to do so, including the issue of presidential term limits. However, several Members stressed that any such changes should be applied for the future but not for incumbent Presidents. Some Members spoke in favour of term limits but no Member contested the right of each country to decide for or against such limits.

Tulia Ackson (Tanzania) wound up the debate.

6.   Summary reports from the workshops — catch-the-eye

Julie Ward gave a summary report on the workshop on ‘Upscaling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for employment creation’, stressing the importance, in particular in ACP countries, of including micro-enterprises and therefore of speaking up for MSMEs, which account for four out of every five new jobs created worldwide. To help MSMEs and to attract investment, the workshop identified a number of issues that should be tackled: reducing red tape, furthering regional integration, promoting training and capacity development, taking advantage of the digital economy and technology enhancement and tackling corruption and infrastructure weaknesses.

Speaker: Co-President Louis Michel.

Bradly John Felix (Saint Lucia) gave an oral report on the workshop on the ‘Kenyan horticulture sector’, stressing the key role of the horticultural sector for the Kenyan economy and employment. The sector exports its products worldwide and has set high social and environmental standards. It faces various challenges, such as the high cost of compliance with foreign phytosanitary standards. The workshop included a field visit to the Winchester flower farm.

(The sitting adjourned at 12.47 and resumed at 15.08)

IN THE CHAIR: Netty BALDEH

Co-President

Exchange of views with Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasised that the natural environment is the basis for human life on earth, as well as for agriculture, fisheries and, increasingly, energy. He also highlighted the links between climate change and environmental degradation on the one hand and conflict, fragility and poverty on the other. While ACP countries are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, there were also opportunities to be found, in particular in relation to renewable energy use and public transport infrastructure. ACP countries should try to leapfrog the development of rich countries in this regard.

Speakers: György Hölvényi, Jo Leinen, Catherine Bearder, Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez, Tesfaye Daba (Ethiopia), Michèle Rivasi, Emanuel Alberto Fernandes Barbosa (Cape Verde), Cecilia Ogwal (Uganda), Nicolas Bay, Babiker Mohamed Toum (Sudan), Esmond Edmund Forde (Trinidad and Tobago), Julie Ward, Arne Lietz and Domenico Rosa (Commission).

Members stressed the effects of climate change on developing countries, the need to invest in the green economy, to make energy savings and to halt the loss of biodiversity, as well as to support least developed countries in decarbonising their future development.

Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade

Co-rapporteurs: Theodor Dumitru Stolojan and Michel Kamano (Guinea)

Michel Kamano (Guinea) and Theodor Dumitru Stolojan presented the report, outlining the origins of illicit financial flows (IFF) and their effect on the economies and societies of developing countries. Members largely agreed on the scope and origins of IFF, namely tax evasion and tax fraud, transfer pricing abuse and various forms of organised crime.

Speakers: Mara Thompson (Barbados), György Hölvényi, Pally Iriase (Nigeria), Neena Gill, Louis Michel, Mohamed Y Goumaneh (Djibouti), Joyce Laboso (Kenya), Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez, Michèle Rivasi, Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), Andre Misiekaba (Suriname), Cecilia Ogwal (Uganda), Dariusz Rosati, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Agustín Diaz de Mera and Domenico Rosa (Commission).

Some ACP Members warned against curbing the potential for resource-poor countries to maintain their financial services industries. Most, however, urged a concerted international effort to close legal gaps, step up international cooperation, drastically increase the transparency of beneficial ownership, financial flows and the reporting obligations of multinational companies, and to facilitate the recovery of illicit assets. Common responsibilities of governments in ACP and OECD countries and the private sector were also stressed.

Michel Kamano (Guinea) and Theodor Dumitru Stolojan wound up the debate.

IN THE CHAIR: Mara THOMPSON (Barbados)

Acting Co-President

Keynote debate with Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), gave a presentation on trade and its role in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. He stressed that trade can contribute to lifting people out of poverty if combined with policies that encourage investment, build up infrastructure, help to reduce inequalities and provide support to meet the regulatory requirements of export markets.

Speakers: Mmadi Hassani (Comores), Daniel Caspary, Carlos Zorrinho, David Campbell Bannerman, Veikko Nekundi (Namibia), Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez, Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), Michèle Rivasi, Juliet Kinyamatama (Uganda), Michael Gahler, Sebastian C. Kopulande (Zambia), Ole Christensen, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Arne Lietz, Dariusz Rosati, Joachim Schuster, Julie Ward and Alessandro Tonoli (Commission).

Mukhisa Kituyi responded to the comments and questions of the speakers and agreed with Members that trade alone was not in itself sufficient to eradicate poverty, that globalisation needed rules and that there was a need for safety nets. He called upon Members to play a leading role in devising policies that are aligned with the SDGs and to convince people not to turn their backs on international cooperation, while addressing the negative aspects of globalisation. Some Members expressed contrary opinions about the benefits of global trade and the opportunities it has provided to the poor and to ACP countries, while agreeing with the need to invest in infrastructure and for ACP countries to move up the value chain. Several Members also stated that the global trade regime was not fully adapted to globalised economies and some criticised international trade rules for not being in the best interests of developing countries.

(The sitting closed at 19.19)

Netty BALDEH

Louis MICHEL

Co-Presidents

Patrick I. GOMES and

Ciril STOKELJ (Acting)

Co Secretaries-General

---

| 30.5.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 170/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

30.5.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 170/9

---

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 WEDNESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2016

(2017/C 170/03)

Contents

| 1. | The role of infrastructure development in fostering regional integration | 10 |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

| 2. | Approval of the minutes of the afternoon sitting of Monday, 19 December 2016. | 10 |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

| 3. | How to support the resettlement of migrants in their home country | 10 |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

| 4. | Approval of the minutes of the morning sitting of Tuesday, 20 December 2016. | 11 |
| --- | --- | --- |

4.

| 5. | Urgent topic No 1: The post-electoral situation in Gabon | 11 |
| --- | --- | --- |

5.

| 6. | Urgent topic No 2: Impact of hurricane Matthew in Haiti | 11 |
| --- | --- | --- |

6.

| 7. | Approval of the minutes of the afternoon sitting of Tuesday, 20 December 2016 | 11 |
| --- | --- | --- |

7.

| 8. | Vote on the motions for resolution included in the reports submitted by the three standing committees | 11 |
| --- | --- | --- |

8.

| 9. | Vote on urgent motions for resolutions | 12 |
| --- | --- | --- |

9.

| 10. | Vote on the draft declaration | 13 |
| --- | --- | --- |

10.

| 11. | Any other business | 13 |
| --- | --- | --- |

11.

| 12. | Date and place of the 33rd Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly | 13 |
| --- | --- | --- |

12.

| ANNEX I | ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY | 14 |
| --- | --- | --- |

ANNEX I

| ANNEX II | RECORD OF ATTENDANCE AT THE SESSION HELD IN NAIROBI (KENYA) FROM 19 TO 21 DECEMBER 2016 | 18 |
| --- | --- | --- |

ANNEX II

| ANNEX III | TEXTS ADOPTED | 21 |
| --- | --- | --- |

ANNEX III

| Resolution on the impact of illicit financial flows on development finance | 21 |
| --- | --- |

| Resolution on challenges for family farming and small-scale agriculture production in ACP countries | 26 |
| --- | --- |

| Resolution on the impact of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti | 33 |
| --- | --- |

| Declaration on the parliamentary dimension of the Post-Cotonou ACP-EU relations | 36 |
| --- | --- |

MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2016

(The sitting opened at 9.20)

IN THE CHAIR: Michèle RIVASI

Acting Co-President

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in Berlin.

Debate with Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Kenya)

Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Kenya), pointed out that African regional integration, inclusive sustainable development and economic growth could not become a reality without adequate infrastructure. She underlined that recent progress made in regional road construction remained insufficient as 75 % of Africa’s road network was still unpaved. She therefore called for massive investment in credible regional projects connecting different parts of the continent. Moreover, regional power grids should be put in place, while non-tariff barriers to trade should be eliminated. She described the setting-up of the ‘Central Corridor’ and the development of an inter-modal connection from Kenya to Cameroon and the Atlantic Ocean, passing through South Sudan, and underlined the importance of developing public-private partnerships (PPPs) and technical skills. On a separate note, she called for the adoption of a UN convention on terrorism, so that the scourge of terrorism could be dealt with more efficiently.

Speakers: Mmadi Hassani (Comores), Anna Záborská, Joyce Laboso (Kenya), Alpha Ousmane (Burkina Faso), Bodil Valero, Joachim Zeller, Louis H. Straker (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Tesfaye Daba (Ethiopia), Michael Gahler, Domenico Rosa (Commission) and Stefano Dejak (EU Delegation).

Members underlined the importance of developing alternative sources of energy, such as geo-thermal power, for which there was considerable potential in Kenya, and stressed the importance of developing better public transport in major cities.

Amina Mohamed responded to questions and wound up the debate.

2.   Approval of the minutes of the afternoon sitting of Monday, 19 December 2016.

The minutes were approved.

Debate with Georges-Henri Beauthier, barrister and human rights lawyer

Georges-Henri Beauthier, a barrister and human rights lawyer, pointed out that Europe had not been dealing with the problem of migration in an appropriate or uniform manner. The importance was highlighted, therefore, of improving the conditions of repatriated people in their countries of origin. The Fondation pour l’égalité des chances en Afrique supported and promoted basic social, health and educational facilities, as well as more affordable access to microcredit, vocational training in sectors where jobs were available, and the creation of cultural centres. Georges-Henri Beauthier criticised the EU Return Directive for failing to adhere to the Geneva Conventions and for its tendency to lead to the outsourcing of basic services for refugees to external companies, which cannot be controlled.

Speakers: Alhaji Sillah (Gambia), Agustín Diaz de Mera, Alpha Ousmane (Burkina Faso), Ole Christensen, Musa Hussein Naib (Eritrea), Arne Gericke, Joyce Laboso (Kenya), Marielle de Sarnez, Tesfaye Daba (Ethiopia), Maria Lidia Senra Rodriguez, Ahamada Soukouna (Mali), Bodil Valero, Amadou Dioffo (Niger), Louis Aliot, Wamai Jack Wamanga (Uganda),

IN THE CHAIR: Cécile Kashetu KYENGE

Acting Co-President

Mariya Gabriel, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Nathalie Griesbeck, Joachim Zeller, Mohamed Youssouf Goumaneh (Djibouti), Anna Záborská, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio,

IN THE CHAIR: Michèle RIVASI

Acting Co-President

Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Louis H. Straker (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Stefano Dejak (EU Delegation) and Domenico Rosa (Commission).

The majority of Members insisted on the need to tackle the root causes of migration, but also to create safe and legal migration pathways into the European Union, and implement visa facilitation in order to prevent ‘death trips’ across the Mediterranean. They also stressed that the long-term impact of migration to Europe could only be positive, in view of the continent’s aging population.

Georges-Henri Beauthier responded to questions and wound up the debate.

4.   Approval of the minutes of the morning sitting of Tuesday, 20 December 2016.

The minutes were approved.

5.   Urgent topic No 1: The post-electoral situation in Gabon

Speakers: Christine de Peyron (EEAS), Mariya Gabriel, Mmadi Hassani (Comores), Jo Leinen, Raphaël Mangouala (Gabon), Michèle Rivasi, Louis Aliot, Joachim Zeller and Cécile Kashetu Kyenge.

Members expressed the hope that the acts of violence and human rights violations that took place after the presidential elections of 27 August 2016 would not happen again. To this effect, they urged all political stakeholders in Gabon to participate in an inclusive national dialogue. EP Members in particular criticised the lack of transparency surrounding the elections, notably as regards the centralisation and certification of the results. They condemned the defamation campaign that was orchestrated against the EU Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) and called for the implementation of the recommendations included in the report drafted by the EOM.

Members regretted that an agreement could not be found on a compromise text for a motion for a resolution on this issue, despite strenuous efforts made by both sides.

6.   Urgent topic No 2: Impact of hurricane Matthew in Haiti

Speakers: Domenico Rosa (Commission), Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Rosa Estaras Ferragut, Agustín Diaz de Mera, Catherine Bearder, Maria Lidia Senra Rodriguez, Michèle Rivasi, Mohamed Youssouf Goumaneh (Djibouti), Charles Allicock (Guyana), Tadeusz Zwiefka and Krzystof Hetman.

Haiti was already in a state of severe distress before the hurricane: after the deadly earthquake, which claimed more than 200 000 victims, cholera killed an additional 10 000 people.

Hurricane Matthew claimed 546 lives. The Commission immediately allocated a total of EUR 3,5 million for temporary shelters. In addition, 22 projects with a total value of EUR 28 million had been launched so far. A further EUR 30 million would be disbursed over the course of the first few months of 2017. National authorities were at the forefront of implementing these humanitarian projects. Therefore, any NGO disaster response must not be funded outside of the nationally led framework. A need for more effective disaster-prevention systems was identified. The introduction of the ‘Copernicus’ mapping system was called for.

(The sitting adjourned at 12.53 and resumed at 15.08)

IN THE CHAIR: Michèle RIVASI

Acting Co-President

7.   Approval of the minutes of the afternoon sitting of Tuesday, 20 December 2016

The minutes were approved.

8.   Vote on the motions for resolution included in the reports submitted by the three standing committees

The Co-President reminded the Assembly of the voting procedures.

| — | Constitutional limits on presidential terms (ACP-EU/102.051/16/fin)
  Committee on Political Affairs
  Report by Tulia Ackson (Tanzania) and Ignazio Corrao
  Amendments adopted: 8 and 12
  Amendments rejected: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14
  Amendment withdrawn: 3
  A vote by separate houses on amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 was requested by the EPP Group.
  Amendment 1, which sought to delete Citation 10, was withdrawn by its author (Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda)) and replaced by a request for a split vote on Citation 10. Both parts of the split vote were rejected.
  Amendment 8, which sought to delete Recital H, was withdrawn by its author (Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda)) and replaced by a request for a split vote on Recital H. Both parts of the split vote were adopted.
  A vote by separate houses on the final resolution was requested by the ACP House.
  The resolution was rejected. |
| --- | --- |

—

Constitutional limits on presidential terms (ACP-EU/102.051/16/fin)

Committee on Political Affairs

Report by Tulia Ackson (Tanzania) and Ignazio Corrao

Amendments adopted: 8 and 12

Amendments rejected: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14

Amendment withdrawn: 3

A vote by separate houses on amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 was requested by the EPP Group.

Amendment 1, which sought to delete Citation 10, was withdrawn by its author (Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda)) and replaced by a request for a split vote on Citation 10. Both parts of the split vote were rejected.

Amendment 8, which sought to delete Recital H, was withdrawn by its author (Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda)) and replaced by a request for a split vote on Recital H. Both parts of the split vote were adopted.

A vote by separate houses on the final resolution was requested by the ACP House.

The resolution was rejected.

| — | Impact of illicit financial flows on development finance (ACP-EU/102.060/16/fin)
  Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade
  Report by Michel Kamano (Guinea) and Theodor Dumitru Stolojan
  Amendments adopted: 1 and 2
  A vote by separate houses on amendment 1 was requested by the EPP Group. The amendment was adopted.
  A split vote and vote by separate houses on paragraph 4 was requested by the EPP Group. Paragraph 4 was adopted.
  On paragraph 6, a vote by separate houses was requested by the S&D and EPP Groups, and a split vote was requested by the S&D Group. The second part of the split vote was adopted.
  The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously with two abstentions. |
| --- | --- |

—

Impact of illicit financial flows on development finance (ACP-EU/102.060/16/fin)

Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade

Report by Michel Kamano (Guinea) and Theodor Dumitru Stolojan

Amendments adopted: 1 and 2

A vote by separate houses on amendment 1 was requested by the EPP Group. The amendment was adopted.

A split vote and vote by separate houses on paragraph 4 was requested by the EPP Group. Paragraph 4 was adopted.

On paragraph 6, a vote by separate houses was requested by the S&D and EPP Groups, and a split vote was requested by the S&D Group. The second part of the split vote was adopted.

The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously with two abstentions.

| — | Challenges for family farming and small-scale agriculture production in ACP countries (ACP-EU/102.064/16/fin)
  Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment
  Report by Uladi Mussa (Malawi) and Maria Heubuch
  Amendment adopted: 1
  Amendments rejected: 3, 4 and 5
  Amendment fallen: 2
  A vote by separate houses on amendments 3, 4 and 5 was requested by the EPP Group. The amendments were rejected.
  On paragraph 2, a separate vote by separate houses was requested by the EPP Group and a split vote was requested by the S&D Group. Paragraph 2 was rejected.
  On paragraph 27, a split vote was requested by the EPP Group. Paragraph 27 was adopted.
  On paragraph 32, a separate vote by separate houses was requested by the EPP Group and a split vote was requested by the S&D Group. Paragraph 32 was rejected.
  The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously, with one abstention. |
| --- | --- |

—

Challenges for family farming and small-scale agriculture production in ACP countries (ACP-EU/102.064/16/fin)

Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment

Report by Uladi Mussa (Malawi) and Maria Heubuch

Amendment adopted: 1

Amendments rejected: 3, 4 and 5

Amendment fallen: 2

A vote by separate houses on amendments 3, 4 and 5 was requested by the EPP Group. The amendments were rejected.

On paragraph 2, a separate vote by separate houses was requested by the EPP Group and a split vote was requested by the S&D Group. Paragraph 2 was rejected.

On paragraph 27, a split vote was requested by the EPP Group. Paragraph 27 was adopted.

On paragraph 32, a separate vote by separate houses was requested by the EPP Group and a split vote was requested by the S&D Group. Paragraph 32 was rejected.

The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously, with one abstention.

9.   Vote on urgent motions for resolutions

Fitz A. Jackson (Jamaica) proposed that the vote on the urgent motion for a resolution on the post-electoral situation in Gabon be postponed until the 33rd session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in June 2017.

Michael Gahler and Jo Leinen recommended proceeding with the vote.

The Co-President reminded members of the deadline for requests relating to voting methods and the Assembly proceeded with the vote.

| — | The post-electoral situation in Gabon (ACP-UE/102.185/16/)
  A compromise motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE and Green Groups and a resolution tabled by Raphäel Mangouala (Gabon) were put to the vote.
  On the compromise motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE and Green Groups, a vote by secret ballot was requested by five Members. Also, a vote by separate houses was requested by five Members.
  Neena Gill, Anna Zaborska, Fitz A. Jackson (Jamaica) and Hermann Razafindravelo (Madagascar) were chosen by lot as tellers for the vote by secret ballot.
  The resolution was rejected.
  On the resolution tabled by Raphäel Mangouala (Gabon), a vote by separate houses was requested by five Members.
  The resolution was rejected. |
| --- | --- |

—

The post-electoral situation in Gabon (ACP-UE/102.185/16/)

A compromise motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE and Green Groups and a resolution tabled by Raphäel Mangouala (Gabon) were put to the vote.

On the compromise motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE and Green Groups, a vote by secret ballot was requested by five Members. Also, a vote by separate houses was requested by five Members.

Neena Gill, Anna Zaborska, Fitz A. Jackson (Jamaica) and Hermann Razafindravelo (Madagascar) were chosen by lot as tellers for the vote by secret ballot.

The resolution was rejected.

On the resolution tabled by Raphäel Mangouala (Gabon), a vote by separate houses was requested by five Members.

The resolution was rejected.

| — | Impact of hurricane Matthew in Haiti (ACP-EU/102.184/16/fin)
  No amendments were tabled.
  The resolution was adopted unanimously. |
| --- | --- |

—

Impact of hurricane Matthew in Haiti (ACP-EU/102.184/16/fin)

No amendments were tabled.

The resolution was adopted unanimously.

10.   Vote on the draft declaration

The declaration was adopted unanimously with two abstentions.

11.   Any other business

| — | Mainstreaming women’s and youth issues into the work of the ACP-EU JPA
  Speakers: Julie Ward, Catherine Bearder, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Mohamed Youssouf Goumaneh (Djibouti), Maria Arena, Cecilia Ogwal (Uganda), Netty Baldeh, Michael Gahler, Arne Gericke and Michèle Rivasi.
  Speakers praised the holding of both a Women’s Forum and a Youth Conference on the margins of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly and called for more attention to be paid to women’s and youth issues in the work of the Assembly. An ACP-EU Youth Conference could be organised.
  The Co-Presidents undertook to submit this request to the Bureau. |
| --- | --- |

—

Mainstreaming women’s and youth issues into the work of the ACP-EU JPA

Speakers: Julie Ward, Catherine Bearder, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Mohamed Youssouf Goumaneh (Djibouti), Maria Arena, Cecilia Ogwal (Uganda), Netty Baldeh, Michael Gahler, Arne Gericke and Michèle Rivasi.

Speakers praised the holding of both a Women’s Forum and a Youth Conference on the margins of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly and called for more attention to be paid to women’s and youth issues in the work of the Assembly. An ACP-EU Youth Conference could be organised.

The Co-Presidents undertook to submit this request to the Bureau.

| — | Co-Presidents’ joint statement on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
  Speakers: Michèle Rivasi, Netty Baldeh, Veikko Nekundi (Namibia), Daniel K. Shumba (Zimbabwe), Michael Gahler, Sebastian C. Kopulande (Zambia), Maria Arena and Alpha Ousmane (Burkina Faso).
  The Co-Presidents announced their intention to issue a Co-Presidents’ joint statement on the situation in the DRC, in accordance with Rule 14 of the Rules of Procedure, calling for the cessation of acts of violence in the country and respect for the Congolese Constitution. |
| --- | --- |

—

Co-Presidents’ joint statement on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Speakers: Michèle Rivasi, Netty Baldeh, Veikko Nekundi (Namibia), Daniel K. Shumba (Zimbabwe), Michael Gahler, Sebastian C. Kopulande (Zambia), Maria Arena and Alpha Ousmane (Burkina Faso).

The Co-Presidents announced their intention to issue a Co-Presidents’ joint statement on the situation in the DRC, in accordance with Rule 14 of the Rules of Procedure, calling for the cessation of acts of violence in the country and respect for the Congolese Constitution.

12.   Date and place of the 33rd Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The 33rd session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly would be held in Saint Julian’s (Malta) from 19 to 21 June 2017.

The Co-President thanked the Kenyan authorities for the efficient organisation of the session, and the Members and the co-secretariat for their contributions.

(The sitting closed at 17.00)

Netty BALDEH

Cécile Kashetu KYENGE(Acting)

Co-Presidents

Leonard-Emile OGNIMBA(Acting)

Ciril STOKELJ (Acting)

Co-Secretaries-General

---

ANNEX I

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

| ACP representatives | EP representatives |
| --- | --- |
| BALDEH (GAMBIA), Co-President | MICHEL, Co-President |
| ANGOLA
  ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
  BAHAMAS
  BARBADOS (VP)
  BELIZE
  BENIN
  BOTSWANA
  BURKINA FASO
  BURUNDI
  CAMEROON
  CAPE VERDE
  CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
  CHAD (VP)
  COMOROS
  CONGO (Democratic Republic of the) (VP)
  CONGO (Republic of the)
  COOK ISLANDS
  CÔTE D’IVOIRE
  DJIBOUTI
  DOMINICA
  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  EQUATORIAL GUINEA (*1)

  ERITREA (VP)
  ETHIOPIA
  FIJI (VP)
  GABON
  GAMBIA
  GHANA
  GRENADA
  GUINEA
  GUINEA-BISSAU
  GUYANA
  HAITI
  KENYA
  KIRIBATI
  LESOTHO
  LIBERIA
  MADAGASCAR
  MALAWI
  MALI
  MARSHALL ISLANDS (Republic of the)
  MAURITANIA
  MAURITIUS
  MICRONESIA (Federated States of)
  MOZAMBIQUE (VP)
  NAMIBIA (VP)
  NAURU
  NIGER
  NIGERIA
  NIUE
  PALAU
  PAPUA NEW GUINEA
  RWANDA
  SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
  SAINT LUCIA
  SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
  SAMOA (VP)
  SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE
  SENEGAL
  SEYCHELLES
  SIERRA LEONE (VP)
  SOLOMON ISLANDS
  SOMALIA (VP)
  SOUTH AFRICA
  SUDAN (*1)

  SURINAME (VP)
  SWAZILAND
  TANZANIA
  TIMOR-LESTE
  TOGO (VP)
  TONGA
  TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
  TUVALU
  UGANDA
  VANUATU
  ZAMBIA
  ZIMBABWE | ADINOLFI
  AGEA
  ALIOT
  ARENA
  BAY
  BEARDER
  CAMPBELL BANNERMAN
  CASA
  CHAUPRADE
  CHRISTENSEN
  CIOCCA
  CORRAO
  CZESAK (VP)
  DANCE
  DELAHAYE
  DE SARNEZ
  ENGSTRÖM
  ESTARÀS FERRAGUT
  FERRARA
  FERREIRA (VP)
  FLAŠÍKOVÁ BEŇOVÁ
  FLORENZ
  GABRIEL
  GÁL
  GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL
  GERICKE
  GERINGER DE OEDENBERG
  GIUFFRIDA
  GOERENS
  GRIESBECK
  GUERRERO SALOM
  HANNAN (VP)
  HERRANZ GARCÍA
  HETMAN
  HEUBUCH
  KARSKI
  KYENGE (VP)
  LÓPEZ AGUILAR (VP)
  LÖSING
  MCAVAN
  MANSCOUR (VP)
  MARUSIK
  MIZZI
  MUSELIER (VP)
  MUSSOLINI
  NART (VP)
  NEGRESCU
  NEUSER
  NOICHL
  OMARJEE
  PAPADIMOULIS
  PEDICINI (VP)
  POGLIESE
  POREBA
  PREUSS
  PUNSET
  RIVASI (VP)
  ROLIN
  ROSATI
  RUAS (VP)
  SALVINI
  SARGENTINI
  SCHREIJER-PIERIK
  SENRA RODRÍGUEZ
  STOLOJAN
  THOMAS
  VAIDERE
  VALERO
  WENTA
  WERNER
  WIELAND
  WIŚNIEWSKA (VP)
  ZÁBORSKÁ
  ZELLER
  ZORRINHO
  ZOVKO
  ZWIEFKA |

ACP representatives

EP representatives

BALDEH (GAMBIA), Co-President

MICHEL, Co-President

ANGOLA

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

BAHAMAS

BARBADOS (VP)

BELIZE

BENIN

BOTSWANA

BURKINA FASO

BURUNDI

CAMEROON

CAPE VERDE

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CHAD (VP)

COMOROS

CONGO (Democratic Republic of the) (VP)

CONGO (Republic of the)

COOK ISLANDS

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

DJIBOUTI

DOMINICA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

EQUATORIAL GUINEA (*1)

ERITREA (VP)

ETHIOPIA

FIJI (VP)

GABON

GAMBIA

GHANA

GRENADA

GUINEA

GUINEA-BISSAU

GUYANA

HAITI

KENYA

KIRIBATI

LESOTHO

LIBERIA

MADAGASCAR

MALAWI

MALI

MARSHALL ISLANDS (Republic of the)

MAURITANIA

MAURITIUS

MICRONESIA (Federated States of)

MOZAMBIQUE (VP)

NAMIBIA (VP)

NAURU

NIGER

NIGERIA

NIUE

PALAU

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

RWANDA

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

SAINT LUCIA

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

SAMOA (VP)

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

SENEGAL

SEYCHELLES

SIERRA LEONE (VP)

SOLOMON ISLANDS

SOMALIA (VP)

SOUTH AFRICA

SUDAN (*1)

SURINAME (VP)

SWAZILAND

TANZANIA

TIMOR-LESTE

TOGO (VP)

TONGA

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TUVALU

UGANDA

VANUATU

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

ADINOLFI

AGEA

ALIOT

ARENA

BAY

BEARDER

CAMPBELL BANNERMAN

CASA

CHAUPRADE

CHRISTENSEN

CIOCCA

CORRAO

CZESAK (VP)

DANCE

DELAHAYE

DE SARNEZ

ENGSTRÖM

ESTARÀS FERRAGUT

FERRARA

FERREIRA (VP)

FLAŠÍKOVÁ BEŇOVÁ

FLORENZ

GABRIEL

GÁL

GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL

GERICKE

GERINGER DE OEDENBERG

GIUFFRIDA

GOERENS

GRIESBECK

GUERRERO SALOM

HANNAN (VP)

HERRANZ GARCÍA

HETMAN

HEUBUCH

KARSKI

KYENGE (VP)

LÓPEZ AGUILAR (VP)

LÖSING

MCAVAN

MANSCOUR (VP)

MARUSIK

MIZZI

MUSELIER (VP)

MUSSOLINI

NART (VP)

NEGRESCU

NEUSER

NOICHL

OMARJEE

PAPADIMOULIS

PEDICINI (VP)

POGLIESE

POREBA

PREUSS

PUNSET

RIVASI (VP)

ROLIN

ROSATI

RUAS (VP)

SALVINI

SARGENTINI

SCHREIJER-PIERIK

SENRA RODRÍGUEZ

STOLOJAN

THOMAS

VAIDERE

VALERO

WENTA

WERNER

WIELAND

WIŚNIEWSKA (VP)

ZÁBORSKÁ

ZELLER

ZORRINHO

ZOVKO

ZWIEFKA

COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS

| ACP Members | EP Members |
| --- | --- |
| CÔTE D’IVOIRE
  KOUA (REPUBLIC OF CONGO), VC
  SUDHAKAR (FIJI), VC | GOERENS, Co-Chair
  ZELLER, VC
  GUERRERO SALOM, VC |
| ANGOLA
  GBIAN (BENIN)
  MANGOLE (BOTSWANA)
  OUSMANE (BURKINA FASO)
  TCHATCHOUANG (CAMEROON)
  YAMA (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC)
  GOUMANEH (DJIBOUTI)
  DABA (ETHIOPIA)
  GUYANA
  CYPRIEN (HAITI)
  JACKSON (JAMAICA)
  KIRIBATI
  DUNAH (LIBERIA)
  MALI
  MARSHALL ISLANDS
  NAURU
  SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
  TOUM (SUDAN) (*2)

  ACKSON (TANZANIA)
  TIMOR LESTE
  TOGO
  OULANYAH (UGANDA)
  SHUMBA (ZIMBABWE) | ADINOLFI
  CASA
  CHAUPRADE
  CORRAO
  CZESAK
  DANCE
  ENGSTRÖM
  GABRIEL
  GAHLER
  GAL
  KARSKI
  KYENGE
  LÖSING
  LÓPEZ AGUILAR
  MICHEL
  POGLIESE
  POREBA
  PREUSS
  RUAS
  VALERO
  WERNER
  WIELAND
  ZORRINHO
  ZWIEFKA |

ACP Members

EP Members

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

KOUA (REPUBLIC OF CONGO), VC

SUDHAKAR (FIJI), VC

GOERENS, Co-Chair

ZELLER, VC

GUERRERO SALOM, VC

ANGOLA

GBIAN (BENIN)

MANGOLE (BOTSWANA)

OUSMANE (BURKINA FASO)

TCHATCHOUANG (CAMEROON)

YAMA (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC)

GOUMANEH (DJIBOUTI)

DABA (ETHIOPIA)

GUYANA

CYPRIEN (HAITI)

JACKSON (JAMAICA)

KIRIBATI

DUNAH (LIBERIA)

MALI

MARSHALL ISLANDS

NAURU

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

TOUM (SUDAN) (*2)

ACKSON (TANZANIA)

TIMOR LESTE

TOGO

OULANYAH (UGANDA)

SHUMBA (ZIMBABWE)

ADINOLFI

CASA

CHAUPRADE

CORRAO

CZESAK

DANCE

ENGSTRÖM

GABRIEL

GAHLER

GAL

KARSKI

KYENGE

LÖSING

LÓPEZ AGUILAR

MICHEL

POGLIESE

POREBA

PREUSS

RUAS

VALERO

WERNER

WIELAND

ZORRINHO

ZWIEFKA

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE AND TRADE

| ACP Members | EP Members |
| --- | --- |
| LABOSO (KENYA, Co-Chair) | FERRARA, Co-Chair
  ESTARÀS FERRAGUT, VC
  MANSCOUR, VC |
| THOMPSON (BARBADOS)
  RWASA (BURUNDI)
  CAPE VERDE
  OUMOURI (COMOROS)
  EQUATORIAL GUINEA (*3)

  KAMANO (GUINEA)
  GUINEA BISSAU
  SEKATLE (LESOTHO)
  JHUGROO (MAURITIUS)
  VAQUINA (MOZAMBIQUE)
  NIGERIA
  NIUE
  KOIM (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)
  MENGA (REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO)
  RUGEMA (RWANDA)
  FELIX (SAINT LUCIA)
  RAINHO (SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE)
  SALL (SENEGAL)
  SOLOMON ISLANDS
  FISH MAHLALELA (SOUTH AFRICA)
  ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
  MISIEKABA (SURINAME)
  TONGA
  FORDE (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)
  KOPULANDE (ZAMBIA) | ARENA
  BAY
  CAMPBELL BANNERMAN
  DE SARNEZ
  DELAHAYE
  FLAŠÍKOVÁ BEŇOVÁ
  FLORENZ
  GRIESBECK
  HANNAN
  MIZZI
  MUSELIER
  NEGRESCU
  OMARJEE
  PAPADIMOULIS
  PEDICINI
  PUNSET
  ROSATI
  SALVINI
  SARGENTINI
  SCHREIJER-PIERIK
  STOLOJAN
  THOMAS
  WENTA |

ACP Members

EP Members

LABOSO (KENYA, Co-Chair)

FERRARA, Co-Chair

ESTARÀS FERRAGUT, VC

MANSCOUR, VC

THOMPSON (BARBADOS)

RWASA (BURUNDI)

CAPE VERDE

OUMOURI (COMOROS)

EQUATORIAL GUINEA (*3)

KAMANO (GUINEA)

GUINEA BISSAU

SEKATLE (LESOTHO)

JHUGROO (MAURITIUS)

VAQUINA (MOZAMBIQUE)

NIGERIA

NIUE

KOIM (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)

MENGA (REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO)

RUGEMA (RWANDA)

FELIX (SAINT LUCIA)

RAINHO (SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE)

SALL (SENEGAL)

SOLOMON ISLANDS

FISH MAHLALELA (SOUTH AFRICA)

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

MISIEKABA (SURINAME)

TONGA

FORDE (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)

KOPULANDE (ZAMBIA)

ARENA

BAY

CAMPBELL BANNERMAN

DE SARNEZ

DELAHAYE

FLAŠÍKOVÁ BEŇOVÁ

FLORENZ

GRIESBECK

HANNAN

MIZZI

MUSELIER

NEGRESCU

OMARJEE

PAPADIMOULIS

PEDICINI

PUNSET

ROSATI

SALVINI

SARGENTINI

SCHREIJER-PIERIK

STOLOJAN

THOMAS

WENTA

COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

| ACP Members | EP Members |
| --- | --- |
| GIDLOW (SAMOA, replacing the Co-Chair) | RIVASI, Co-Chair
  AGEA, VC
  MUSSOLINI, VC |
| ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
  BAHAMAS
  PEYREFITTE (BELIZE)
  CHAD
  JOANE (COOK ISLANDS)
  DOMINICA
  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  NAIB (ERITREA)
  GABON
  SILLAH (GAMBIA)
  AMOATEY (GHANA)
  GRENADA
  RAZAFINDRAVELO (MADAGASCAR)
  MUSSA (MALAWI)
  ZAMEL (MAURITANIA)
  MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)
  NAMUTENYA CALEY (NAMIBIA)
  DIOFFO (NIGER)
  PALAU
  SEYCHELLES
  LEWALLY (SIERRA LEONE)
  SOMALIA
  DLAMINI (SWAZILAND)
  TAUSI (TUVALU) | ALIOT
  BEARDER
  CHRISTENSEN
  CIOCCA
  FERREIRA
  GARDIAZÁBAL RUBIAL
  GERICKE
  GERINGER DE OEDENBERG
  GIUFFRIDA
  HERRANZ GARCÍA
  HETMAN
  HEUBUCH
  MARUSIK
  MCAVAN
  NART
  NEUSER
  NOICHL
  ROLIN
  SENRA RODRÍGUEZ
  VAIDERE
  WIŚNIEWSKA
  ZABORSKA |

ACP Members

EP Members

GIDLOW (SAMOA, replacing the Co-Chair)

RIVASI, Co-Chair

AGEA, VC

MUSSOLINI, VC

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

BAHAMAS

PEYREFITTE (BELIZE)

CHAD

JOANE (COOK ISLANDS)

DOMINICA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

NAIB (ERITREA)

GABON

SILLAH (GAMBIA)

AMOATEY (GHANA)

GRENADA

RAZAFINDRAVELO (MADAGASCAR)

MUSSA (MALAWI)

ZAMEL (MAURITANIA)

MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)

NAMUTENYA CALEY (NAMIBIA)

DIOFFO (NIGER)

PALAU

SEYCHELLES

LEWALLY (SIERRA LEONE)

SOMALIA

DLAMINI (SWAZILAND)

TAUSI (TUVALU)

ALIOT

BEARDER

CHRISTENSEN

CIOCCA

FERREIRA

GARDIAZÁBAL RUBIAL

GERICKE

GERINGER DE OEDENBERG

GIUFFRIDA

HERRANZ GARCÍA

HETMAN

HEUBUCH

MARUSIK

MCAVAN

NART

NEUSER

NOICHL

ROLIN

SENRA RODRÍGUEZ

VAIDERE

WIŚNIEWSKA

ZABORSKA

---

(*1)  With observer status.

(*2)  With observer status.

(*3)  With observer status.

---

ANNEX II

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE AT THE SESSION HELD IN NAIROBI (KENYA) FROM 19 TO 21 DECEMBER 2016

| BALDEH (GAMBIA), Co-President | MICHEL, Co-President |
| --- | --- |
| XIRIMBIMBI (ANGOLA)
  MARA (BARBADOS)
  PEYREFITTE (BELIZE)
  GBIAN (BENIN)
  MANGOLE (BOTSWANA)
  OUSMANE (BURKINA FASO)
  RWASA (BURUNDI)
  FERNANDES (CAPE VERDE)
  KOMBO (CAMEROON)
  MMADI HASSANI (COMORES)
  MENGA (CONGO, Democratic Republic of the)
  IOANE (COOK ISLANDS)
  GOUMANEH (DJIBOUTI)
  ISHMAEL (DOMINICA)
  PUJALS NOLASCO (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
  NAIB (ERITREA)
  ABADULA GEMEDA DAGO (ETHIOPIA)
  SUDHAKAR (FIJI)
  MILEBOU (GABON)
  SILLAH (GAMBIA)
  AMOATEY (GHANA)
  KAMANO (GUINEA)
  CYPRIEN (HAITI)
  JACKSON (JAMAICA)
  LABOSO ABONYO (KENYA)
  SEKATLE (LESOTHO)
  DUNAH (LIBERA)
  RAZAFINDRAVELO (MADAGASCAR)
  MUSSA (MALAWI)
  SOUKOUNA (MALI)
  JHUGROO (MAURITIUS)
  VAQUINA (MOZAMBIQUE)
  DIOFFO (NIGER)
  IRIASE (NIGERIA)
  KOIM (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)
  FELIX (SAINT LUCIA)
  STRAKER (SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES)
  GIDLOW (SAMOA)
  SALL (SENEGAL)
  BUNDU (SIERRA LEONE)
  MAHLALELA (SOUTH AFRICA)
  THOON LEEK (SOUTH SUDAN)
  TOUM (SUDAN) (*1)

  DLAMINI (SWAZILAND)
  ACKSON (TANZANIA)
  WEIDOU (TCHAD)
  IBRAHIMA (TOGO)
  FORDE (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)
  TAUSI (TUVALU)
  OULANYAH (UGANDA)
  KOPULANDE (ZAMBIA)
  SHUMBA (ZIMBABWE) | ALIOT
  ARENA
  BAY
  BEARDER
  CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (1)
   (2)

  CASPARY (1)
   (2)

  CHRISTENSEN
  DE SARNEZ
  DIAZ DE MERA
  ERTUG
  ESTARAS
  GABRIEL
  GAHLER
  GAMBÚS
  GERICKE
  GILL
  GRIESBECK
  HERRANZ GARCÍA
  HETMAN
  HÖLVÉNYI
  JÄÄTTEENMÄKI
  JIMENEZ BECERRIL BARRIO
  KARSKI
  KŁOSOWSKI
  KYENGE
  LEGUTKO (1)
   (2)

  LEINEN
  LIETZ
  LÓPEZ AGUILAR
  MANSCOUR
  NEUSER
  NOICHL
  RIVASI
  ROSATI
  SCHUSTER
  SENRA RODRIGUEZ
  SERRÃO SANTOS
  STOLOJAN
  VALERO
  VAUGHAN (1)
   (2)

  WARD
  WENTA
  WERNER
  WIŚNIEWSKA (1)
   (2)

  ZÁBORSKÁ
  ZELLER
  ZORRINHO
  ZWIEFKA |

BALDEH (GAMBIA), Co-President

MICHEL, Co-President

XIRIMBIMBI (ANGOLA)

MARA (BARBADOS)

PEYREFITTE (BELIZE)

GBIAN (BENIN)

MANGOLE (BOTSWANA)

OUSMANE (BURKINA FASO)

RWASA (BURUNDI)

FERNANDES (CAPE VERDE)

KOMBO (CAMEROON)

MMADI HASSANI (COMORES)

MENGA (CONGO, Democratic Republic of the)

IOANE (COOK ISLANDS)

GOUMANEH (DJIBOUTI)

ISHMAEL (DOMINICA)

PUJALS NOLASCO (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

NAIB (ERITREA)

ABADULA GEMEDA DAGO (ETHIOPIA)

SUDHAKAR (FIJI)

MILEBOU (GABON)

SILLAH (GAMBIA)

AMOATEY (GHANA)

KAMANO (GUINEA)

CYPRIEN (HAITI)

JACKSON (JAMAICA)

LABOSO ABONYO (KENYA)

SEKATLE (LESOTHO)

DUNAH (LIBERA)

RAZAFINDRAVELO (MADAGASCAR)

MUSSA (MALAWI)

SOUKOUNA (MALI)

JHUGROO (MAURITIUS)

VAQUINA (MOZAMBIQUE)

DIOFFO (NIGER)

IRIASE (NIGERIA)

KOIM (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)

FELIX (SAINT LUCIA)

STRAKER (SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES)

GIDLOW (SAMOA)

SALL (SENEGAL)

BUNDU (SIERRA LEONE)

MAHLALELA (SOUTH AFRICA)

THOON LEEK (SOUTH SUDAN)

TOUM (SUDAN) (*1)

DLAMINI (SWAZILAND)

ACKSON (TANZANIA)

WEIDOU (TCHAD)

IBRAHIMA (TOGO)

FORDE (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)

TAUSI (TUVALU)

OULANYAH (UGANDA)

KOPULANDE (ZAMBIA)

SHUMBA (ZIMBABWE)

ALIOT

ARENA

BAY

BEARDER

CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (1)
   (2)

CASPARY (1)
   (2)

CHRISTENSEN

DE SARNEZ

DIAZ DE MERA

ERTUG

ESTARAS

GABRIEL

GAHLER

GAMBÚS

GERICKE

GILL

GRIESBECK

HERRANZ GARCÍA

HETMAN

HÖLVÉNYI

JÄÄTTEENMÄKI

JIMENEZ BECERRIL BARRIO

KARSKI

KŁOSOWSKI

KYENGE

LEGUTKO (1)
   (2)

LEINEN

LIETZ

LÓPEZ AGUILAR

MANSCOUR

NEUSER

NOICHL

RIVASI

ROSATI

SCHUSTER

SENRA RODRIGUEZ

SERRÃO SANTOS

STOLOJAN

VALERO

VAUGHAN (1)
   (2)

WARD

WENTA

WERNER

WIŚNIEWSKA (1)
   (2)

ZÁBORSKÁ

ZELLER

ZORRINHO

ZWIEFKA

Also present:

ANGOLA

TEIXEIRA

PEREIRA BRAVO

ANDRE

SIMBRÃO DE CARVALHO

COSTA DE JESUS

BARBADOS

CHANDLER

BENIN

AHONOUKOUN

N’OUEMOU

DJIMAN

BOTSWANA

MORETI

BURKINA FASO

SOME

COMPAORE

LANKANDE

BURUNDI

MBONIMPA

BIKORIMANA

BIGIRIMANA

CAMEROON

AWUDU MBAYA

OWONA KONO

CONGO (REPUBLIC OF THE)

MABAYA GIZI AMINE

KATUMWA MUKALAY

BULAMBO KILOSHO

MAKA BASIALA

MOLIWA MOLEKO

INIER LATEBO EKWA

LUBINGA

NGOY MWAMBA

MUKENDI KABAMBI

AIMA TSHANDIA

SILUVANGI LUMBA

GABON

OWONO NGUEMA

JOUMAS dit

SALAMBA

GAMBIA

NJIE

KT JAMMEH

GHANA

ASAMOAH

GUINEA

SYLLA

DIALLO

GUINEA-BISSAU

SAIEGH

QUITIRNA

MALAWI

PATEL

KAPHAMTENGO YONA

LIPANDE

MALI

DIARRASSOUBA

TOURE

DIARRA

MOZAMBIQUE

SITHOLE

NAMBURETE

NAMIBIA

VENAANI

CALEY

NIGER

MAHAMANE

DILLE

CHEKOU KORE

AMADOU

NIGERIA

LIDANI

OGBUOJI

OLATUNBOSUN

YUNUSA

OKORIE

NSIEGBE

SENEGAL

TALL

BALLA LO

DIALLO

SIERRA LEONE

LEWALLY

KUYEMBEH

SOUTH AFRICA

MAMPURU

BERGMANN

SOUTH SUDAN

OHIDE OMAHA

SUDAN

AHMED

ABU-AGLA

AL-HILOU

ATEM

ABDELRAHMAN

TANZANIA

MATIKO

LWOTA

TCHAD

ADJI

TEKILIO

AFONO

TOGO

FABRE

LAWSON

UGANDA

NOKRACH

OGWAL

WAMANGA

KINYAMATAMA

ZIMBABWE

ZINDI

MLOTSHWA

ACP COUNCIL

LINDSAY F.P. GRANT, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Consumer Affairs (Saint Kitts and Nevis), President-in-Office of the ACP Council

EU COUNCIL

LUKÁŠ PARÍZEK, State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (Slovakia), President-in-Office of the EU Council

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

NEVEN MIMICA, Member of the Commission with responsibility for international cooperation and development

EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE

DE PEYRON, Head of Division, Pan-African Affairs

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE

SOMVILLE

ACP SECRETARIAT

GOMES, Co-Secretary-General

EU SECRETARIAT

AGUIRIANO NALDA, Co-Secretary-General

---

(*1)  With observer status.

(1)  Present on 19 December 2016.

(2)  Present on 20 December 2016.

---

ANNEX III

TEXTS ADOPTED

RESOLUTION (1)

on the impact of illicit financial flows on development finance

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,

| — | meeting in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016, |
| --- | --- |

—

meeting in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016,

| — | having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement) (2), in particular Article 21 thereof, and revisions of the Cotonou Agreement in 2005 and 2010 (3), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement) (2), in particular Article 21 thereof, and revisions of the Cotonou Agreement in 2005 and 2010 (3),

| — | having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 8 July 2015 (4) on tax avoidance and tax evasion as challenges for governance, social protection and development in developing countries, the European Parliament resolution of 13 March 2014 on the EU 2013 Report on Policy Coherence for Development (5), the European Parliament resolution of 26 February 2014 on promoting development through responsible business practices, including the role of extractive industries in developing countries (6), the European Parliament resolution of 8 October 2013 on corruption in the public and private sectors: the impact on human rights in third countries (7), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 8 July 2015 (4) on tax avoidance and tax evasion as challenges for governance, social protection and development in developing countries, the European Parliament resolution of 13 March 2014 on the EU 2013 Report on Policy Coherence for Development (5), the European Parliament resolution of 26 February 2014 on promoting development through responsible business practices, including the role of extractive industries in developing countries (6), the European Parliament resolution of 8 October 2013 on corruption in the public and private sectors: the impact on human rights in third countries (7),

| — | having regard to the Twenty-Fourth Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 30 and 31 January 2015; |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Twenty-Fourth Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 30 and 31 January 2015;

| — | having regard to the Commission communication of 18 March 2015 on tax transparency to fight tax evasion and avoidance (8), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 18 March 2015 on tax transparency to fight tax evasion and avoidance (8),

| — | having regard to the Commission communication of 5 February 2015 entitled ‘A Global Partnership for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development after 2015’ (9), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 5 February 2015 entitled ‘A Global Partnership for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development after 2015’ (9),

| — | having regard to the Commission communication of 21 April 2010 entitled ‘Tax and Development: Cooperating with Developing Countries on Promoting Good Governance in Tax Matters’ (10), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 21 April 2010 entitled ‘Tax and Development: Cooperating with Developing Countries on Promoting Good Governance in Tax Matters’ (10),

| — | having regard to the Declaration of the 18th meeting of the ACP Ministerial Trade Committee on Fiscal Jurisdiction in ACP Countries held in Brussels from 24 to 26 June 2015; |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Declaration of the 18th meeting of the ACP Ministerial Trade Committee on Fiscal Jurisdiction in ACP Countries held in Brussels from 24 to 26 June 2015;

| — | having regard to the Commission staff working document of October 2015 entitled ‘Collect more –spend better for achieving development in an inclusive and sustainable way’, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission staff working document of October 2015 entitled ‘Collect more –spend better for achieving development in an inclusive and sustainable way’,

| — | having regard to the report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) from Africa chaired by Thabo Mbeki in 2015, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) from Africa chaired by Thabo Mbeki in 2015,

| — | having regard to the position of the ACP Group of States of 10 July 2015 on the third International Conference on Financing for Development, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the position of the ACP Group of States of 10 July 2015 on the third International Conference on Financing for Development,

| — | having regard to the final document of the Post-2015 Development Agenda entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the final document of the Post-2015 Development Agenda entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015,

| — | having regard to the third UN International Conference on Financing for Development held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) from 13 to 16 July 2015, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the third UN International Conference on Financing for Development held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) from 13 to 16 July 2015,

| — | having regard to the report of the inaugural session of the Economic and Social Council forum on financing for development follow-up of 18 May 2016, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the inaugural session of the Economic and Social Council forum on financing for development follow-up of 18 May 2016,

| — | having regard to the work of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the work of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters,

| — | having regard to the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between developed and developing countries, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between developed and developing countries,

| — | having regard to the Declaration of Monterrey (2002), the Conference on Financing for Development in Doha (2008), the Paris Declaration (2005) and the Accra Agenda for Action (2008), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Declaration of Monterrey (2002), the Conference on Financing for Development in Doha (2008), the Paris Declaration (2005) and the Accra Agenda for Action (2008),

| — | having regard to the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters,

| — | having regard to the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes,

| — | having regard to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI),

| — | having regard to the UN Convention against Corruption, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the UN Convention against Corruption,

| — | having regard to the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters and the African Tax Administration Forum, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters and the African Tax Administration Forum,

| — | having regard to the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation,

| — | having regard to the activity of the African Tax Forum, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the activity of the African Tax Forum,

| — | having regard to Article 18(1) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Article 18(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade (ACP-EU/xxxxxx), |
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—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade (ACP-EU/xxxxxx),

| A. | whereas developing countries lose an estimated USD 189 billion in tax revenue annually — representing more than the global official development assistance (USD 131 billion in 2015) — and an estimated USD 1 trillion in illicit capital flows; whereas these outflows of capital have a depressing effect of around 5 % on their economic growth, thus hampering the eradication of poverty; |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas developing countries lose an estimated USD 189 billion in tax revenue annually — representing more than the global official development assistance (USD 131 billion in 2015) — and an estimated USD 1 trillion in illicit capital flows; whereas these outflows of capital have a depressing effect of around 5 % on their economic growth, thus hampering the eradication of poverty;

| B. | whereas IFF come from three sources: i) tax avoidance or evasion, ii) falsification of invoices in international trade, and abusive transfer pricing, iii) criminal activities such as drugs trafficking, human trafficking, ‘blood minerals’ trafficking, arms trafficking and active corruption; |
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B.

whereas IFF come from three sources: i) tax avoidance or evasion, ii) falsification of invoices in international trade, and abusive transfer pricing, iii) criminal activities such as drugs trafficking, human trafficking, ‘blood minerals’ trafficking, arms trafficking and active corruption;

| C. | whereas some legal practices of money transfer to low-tax jurisdictions may eventually lead to IFF; |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas some legal practices of money transfer to low-tax jurisdictions may eventually lead to IFF;

| D. | whereas IFF are funds acquired, transferred or used illegally in order to evade taxation, that should be distinguished from capital flight, which may be a legitimate response by investors to economic, political or social risks, or to unfavourable macroeconomic or administrative conditions; |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas IFF are funds acquired, transferred or used illegally in order to evade taxation, that should be distinguished from capital flight, which may be a legitimate response by investors to economic, political or social risks, or to unfavourable macroeconomic or administrative conditions;

| E. | whereas, in the context of declining development aid and the need for greater mobilisation of domestic financial resources, the massive outflows of capital from the ACP countries constitute a major obstacle to the attainment of development targets; |
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E.

whereas, in the context of declining development aid and the need for greater mobilisation of domestic financial resources, the massive outflows of capital from the ACP countries constitute a major obstacle to the attainment of development targets;

| F. | whereas many experts have stressed that Africa would have attained the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in 2016 had IFF been eliminated in 2000; |
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F.

whereas many experts have stressed that Africa would have attained the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in 2016 had IFF been eliminated in 2000;

| G. | whereas outflows of capital reduce domestic resources and tax revenue needed to fund poverty-reducing programmes in ACP countries, notably in education, healthcare, drinking water, housing and sanitation, and thus hamper the eradication of poverty; |
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G.

whereas outflows of capital reduce domestic resources and tax revenue needed to fund poverty-reducing programmes in ACP countries, notably in education, healthcare, drinking water, housing and sanitation, and thus hamper the eradication of poverty;

| H. | whereas taxation is a reliable and stable source of revenue in developing countries as efficient and transparent tax regimes provide vital finance to ensure access to basic public services, reduce social inequalities and support macroeconomic stability; |
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H.

whereas taxation is a reliable and stable source of revenue in developing countries as efficient and transparent tax regimes provide vital finance to ensure access to basic public services, reduce social inequalities and support macroeconomic stability;

| I. | whereas the lack of technical capacity in developing countries to handle complex matters in the area of taxation is a constraint on both domestic revenue mobilisation and participation in international tax cooperation; |
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I.

whereas the lack of technical capacity in developing countries to handle complex matters in the area of taxation is a constraint on both domestic revenue mobilisation and participation in international tax cooperation;

| J. | whereas many ACP States, in line with their economic development and diversification strategies and with a view to legitimately exploiting opportunities from globalisation, have developed or are developing, despite numerous constraints, their financial services sector and are committed to ensuring full compliance with international norms and standards; |
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J.

whereas many ACP States, in line with their economic development and diversification strategies and with a view to legitimately exploiting opportunities from globalisation, have developed or are developing, despite numerous constraints, their financial services sector and are committed to ensuring full compliance with international norms and standards;

| K. | whereas IFF are among a number of global challenges such as the inadequacy of national legal frameworks, the technical and political weakness of national and regional capacities, the weakness of the worldwide architecture for combating IFF, and the opacity of global financial transactions; |
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K.

whereas IFF are among a number of global challenges such as the inadequacy of national legal frameworks, the technical and political weakness of national and regional capacities, the weakness of the worldwide architecture for combating IFF, and the opacity of global financial transactions;

| L. | whereas IFF also apply to criminal activities such as human, drugs and arms trafficking, smuggling or financial fraud, as well as unauthorised or unsecured loans, money laundering and manipulation of the stock and bond markets; |
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L.

whereas IFF also apply to criminal activities such as human, drugs and arms trafficking, smuggling or financial fraud, as well as unauthorised or unsecured loans, money laundering and manipulation of the stock and bond markets;

| M. | whereas many efforts and initiatives have already been launched at international level, like the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the UN Convention against Corruption, the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters and the African Tax Administration Forum; |
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M.

whereas many efforts and initiatives have already been launched at international level, like the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the UN Convention against Corruption, the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters and the African Tax Administration Forum;

| N. | whereas it is welcome that many ACP States are party to these international instruments and are committed to implementing them; |
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N.

whereas it is welcome that many ACP States are party to these international instruments and are committed to implementing them;

| O. | whereas the explosive increase in the youth population, which will make Africa the most populated region in the world in a few years, could lead to increased unemployment and socio-political instability; |
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O.

whereas the explosive increase in the youth population, which will make Africa the most populated region in the world in a few years, could lead to increased unemployment and socio-political instability;

| 1. | Strongly believes that efforts to tackle IFF must primarily be of a political nature, and that the fight against money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance, aggressive tax planning and corruption must remain at the top of the international agenda since they are cause for grave concern in view of the low rates of economic growth in some ACP countries, the high rates of poverty and the growing need for resources in the context of declining public aid; |
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1.

Strongly believes that efforts to tackle IFF must primarily be of a political nature, and that the fight against money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance, aggressive tax planning and corruption must remain at the top of the international agenda since they are cause for grave concern in view of the low rates of economic growth in some ACP countries, the high rates of poverty and the growing need for resources in the context of declining public aid;

| 2. | Recalls that measures against IFF require strong international cooperation and the simultaneous involvement of all national and international actors: namely, governments and local authorities, state agencies, the private sector, regional and international organisations and civil society; |
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2.

Recalls that measures against IFF require strong international cooperation and the simultaneous involvement of all national and international actors: namely, governments and local authorities, state agencies, the private sector, regional and international organisations and civil society;

| 3. | Recalls the commitment given by the parties to the Busan Partnership Agreement of 2011 to work effectively together in the service of development and to do more to combat corruption and IFF; |
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3.

Recalls the commitment given by the parties to the Busan Partnership Agreement of 2011 to work effectively together in the service of development and to do more to combat corruption and IFF;

| 4. | Acknowledges the many efforts undertaken at international level to combat IFF but notes with concern that the most relevant international conventions and initiatives aimed at fighting corruption and IFF fail to deliver concrete results at their implementation stage; in particular, regrets that those initiatives often lack coordination, especially in the context of asset recovery, and coherence although they have been supported by measures against international terrorism and the subsequent efforts to control its financing; recalls that the prerequisite for defeating terrorist organisations in destabilised countries remains the investigation of their international financial supplies and cutting channels of arms trafficking; |
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4.

Acknowledges the many efforts undertaken at international level to combat IFF but notes with concern that the most relevant international conventions and initiatives aimed at fighting corruption and IFF fail to deliver concrete results at their implementation stage; in particular, regrets that those initiatives often lack coordination, especially in the context of asset recovery, and coherence although they have been supported by measures against international terrorism and the subsequent efforts to control its financing; recalls that the prerequisite for defeating terrorist organisations in destabilised countries remains the investigation of their international financial supplies and cutting channels of arms trafficking;

| 5. | Realises that in order to achieve goals, it is necessary to reconcile domestic policies and the global agenda; stresses that policy coherence among both institutions and reforms is needed at domestic and international level; |
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5.

Realises that in order to achieve goals, it is necessary to reconcile domestic policies and the global agenda; stresses that policy coherence among both institutions and reforms is needed at domestic and international level;

| 6. | Calls on the Member States and the ACP countries to work under the auspices of the UN to establish a legal obligation covering the whole of the minerals supply chain, thereby taking genuine action to uphold human rights rather than defending the interests of lobbies and big business; |
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6.

Calls on the Member States and the ACP countries to work under the auspices of the UN to establish a legal obligation covering the whole of the minerals supply chain, thereby taking genuine action to uphold human rights rather than defending the interests of lobbies and big business;

| 7. | Recalls that tax havens, secrecy jurisdictions and IFF erode the tax base, undermine the fairness of the tax system and distort trade and investment; in this context, strongly emphasises that the elimination of all forms of IFF is paramount to achieve the economic and social objectives of the new Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development; |
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7.

Recalls that tax havens, secrecy jurisdictions and IFF erode the tax base, undermine the fairness of the tax system and distort trade and investment; in this context, strongly emphasises that the elimination of all forms of IFF is paramount to achieve the economic and social objectives of the new Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development;

| 8. | Recalls that domestic resources mobilisation through taxation is the most important source of revenue for financing sustainable development; urges the international community to take all measures necessary to implement effective and transparent tax and trade policies, and to take into account the OECD, G20, G8, G77, African Union, World Bank, IMF and ADB and the critical role of private banks in ensuring financial transparency in ACP countries and around the world; further stresses the need for greater participation of developing countries in global tax governance; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Recalls that domestic resources mobilisation through taxation is the most important source of revenue for financing sustainable development; urges the international community to take all measures necessary to implement effective and transparent tax and trade policies, and to take into account the OECD, G20, G8, G77, African Union, World Bank, IMF and ADB and the critical role of private banks in ensuring financial transparency in ACP countries and around the world; further stresses the need for greater participation of developing countries in global tax governance;

| 9. | Underlines that ACP countries often face major political, legal and administrative constraints in raising tax revenues; believes, therefore, that development assistance should focus on establishing the right regulatory framework and empowering tax administrations, as well as the institutions responsible for combating IFF, by providing technical expertise on resource management, financial intelligence, and anti-corruption regulation, particularly as regards money laundering, organised crime and trafficking, and the return of assets stolen from countries; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Underlines that ACP countries often face major political, legal and administrative constraints in raising tax revenues; believes, therefore, that development assistance should focus on establishing the right regulatory framework and empowering tax administrations, as well as the institutions responsible for combating IFF, by providing technical expertise on resource management, financial intelligence, and anti-corruption regulation, particularly as regards money laundering, organised crime and trafficking, and the return of assets stolen from countries;

| 10. | Stresses the risks faced by African countries in making unbalanced concessions regarding Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) as well as concession contracts for the extraction of natural resources; deems that the model treaty developed by the United Nations Tax Committee should be supported in order to address abuse in terms of DTAs since it provides for stronger rights to taxation at source than the OECD model; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Stresses the risks faced by African countries in making unbalanced concessions regarding Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) as well as concession contracts for the extraction of natural resources; deems that the model treaty developed by the United Nations Tax Committee should be supported in order to address abuse in terms of DTAs since it provides for stronger rights to taxation at source than the OECD model;

| 11. | Notes that extractive industries, utilities and infrastructure, health and education are particularly vulnerable to corruption, which is one of the main drivers of IFF; believes that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) should be made mandatory; invites ACP States to increase transparency and accountability in resource contracts, companies’ financial reporting and auditing as well as revenue collection and allocation as part of their anti-corruption agenda; |
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11.

Notes that extractive industries, utilities and infrastructure, health and education are particularly vulnerable to corruption, which is one of the main drivers of IFF; believes that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) should be made mandatory; invites ACP States to increase transparency and accountability in resource contracts, companies’ financial reporting and auditing as well as revenue collection and allocation as part of their anti-corruption agenda;

| 12. | Recalls that non-transparent government procurement and supply chains can provide opportunities for corruption-related IFF; accordingly, considers that anti-corruption efforts should also aim at modernising procurement practices; |
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12.

Recalls that non-transparent government procurement and supply chains can provide opportunities for corruption-related IFF; accordingly, considers that anti-corruption efforts should also aim at modernising procurement practices;

| 13. | Notes with concern that Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are still supporting a large amount of investments routed through tax havens, by relying heavily on financial intermediaries; stresses that international and regional development finance institutions and banks have a key role to play in terms of responsible finance and that cooperation should be directed at enhancing good governance and state-building in order to allow an accountable and responsible use of public revenue in ACP countries; in particular, considers that DFIs should only invest in companies and funds that are willing to publicly disclose beneficial ownerships and report back their financial accounts on a country-by-country basis; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Notes with concern that Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are still supporting a large amount of investments routed through tax havens, by relying heavily on financial intermediaries; stresses that international and regional development finance institutions and banks have a key role to play in terms of responsible finance and that cooperation should be directed at enhancing good governance and state-building in order to allow an accountable and responsible use of public revenue in ACP countries; in particular, considers that DFIs should only invest in companies and funds that are willing to publicly disclose beneficial ownerships and report back their financial accounts on a country-by-country basis;

| 14. | Calls on the EU to take a more active role in providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries to cope with emerging global standards for fighting tax evasion, including automatic exchange of information; |
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14.

Calls on the EU to take a more active role in providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries to cope with emerging global standards for fighting tax evasion, including automatic exchange of information;

| 15. | Calls on the EU to make full use of the OECD Model Tax Convention, including an optional provision for assistance in tax collection, which can be included in bilateral conventions where each country agrees to help in the collection of taxes levied by the other country; |
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15.

Calls on the EU to make full use of the OECD Model Tax Convention, including an optional provision for assistance in tax collection, which can be included in bilateral conventions where each country agrees to help in the collection of taxes levied by the other country;

| 16. | Insists on the need to combat by means of cooperation and exchanges of information erosion of the tax base and profit shifting to non-cooperative tax jurisdictions and to banks, including banks in developed countries, which apply banking secrecy; calls furthermore on all states and jurisdictions which have not yet done so to adhere to the Common Global Standards for the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts; |
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16.

Insists on the need to combat by means of cooperation and exchanges of information erosion of the tax base and profit shifting to non-cooperative tax jurisdictions and to banks, including banks in developed countries, which apply banking secrecy; calls furthermore on all states and jurisdictions which have not yet done so to adhere to the Common Global Standards for the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts;

| 17. | Calls for information on beneficial ownership of companies to be made publicly available for all corporate structures, including trusts, foundations and shell companies, and reiterates its call for public country-by-country reporting by multinationals to stop base erosion and profit shifting, based on G20 and OECD models; argues that the profits made by multinational companies should be taxed in the country where they were generated; considers likewise that tax incentives should be made public; |
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17.

Calls for information on beneficial ownership of companies to be made publicly available for all corporate structures, including trusts, foundations and shell companies, and reiterates its call for public country-by-country reporting by multinationals to stop base erosion and profit shifting, based on G20 and OECD models; argues that the profits made by multinational companies should be taxed in the country where they were generated; considers likewise that tax incentives should be made public;

| 18. | Recalls that cooperation and exchanges of information between different intelligence services are key and, therefore, calls for regional cooperation to be enhanced in order to jointly draft a model tax information exchange agreement to prevent abuses; |
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18.

Recalls that cooperation and exchanges of information between different intelligence services are key and, therefore, calls for regional cooperation to be enhanced in order to jointly draft a model tax information exchange agreement to prevent abuses;

| 19. | Acknowledges the fact that many ACP States, in line with their economic development and diversification strategies and with a view to legitimately exploiting opportunities of globalisation, have developed or are developing, despite numerous constraints, their financial services sector and are committed to ensuring full compliance with international norms and standards; |
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19.

Acknowledges the fact that many ACP States, in line with their economic development and diversification strategies and with a view to legitimately exploiting opportunities of globalisation, have developed or are developing, despite numerous constraints, their financial services sector and are committed to ensuring full compliance with international norms and standards;

| 20. | Urges financial centres, including offshore financial centres, with a proven high level of secrecy to cooperate in the global fight against IFF and comply with global agreed transparency standards, and believes that sanctions should be considered in case of non-cooperation, following the exhaustion of all dialogue and consultation with the states and jurisdictions concerned and on the basis of well-defined and internationally acceptable criteria; |
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20.

Urges financial centres, including offshore financial centres, with a proven high level of secrecy to cooperate in the global fight against IFF and comply with global agreed transparency standards, and believes that sanctions should be considered in case of non-cooperation, following the exhaustion of all dialogue and consultation with the states and jurisdictions concerned and on the basis of well-defined and internationally acceptable criteria;

| 21. | Invites all ACP States and EU Member States to ensure access to information about the budgets of the state and of local authorities for the public as a way of protecting public funds from being diverted into IFF; |
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21.

Invites all ACP States and EU Member States to ensure access to information about the budgets of the state and of local authorities for the public as a way of protecting public funds from being diverted into IFF;

| 22. | Calls on all the ACP countries to establish a peer-review mechanism which covers the fight against illicit financial flows; |
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22.

Calls on all the ACP countries to establish a peer-review mechanism which covers the fight against illicit financial flows;

| 23. | Recalls that taxation is a reliable source of revenue in developing countries, as efficient and transparent tax regimes provide vital finance that ensures access to basic public services and reduces social inequalities; |
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23.

Recalls that taxation is a reliable source of revenue in developing countries, as efficient and transparent tax regimes provide vital finance that ensures access to basic public services and reduces social inequalities;

| 24. | Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the regional and national parliaments, the regional organisations relating to ACP countries, and the EIB. |
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24.

Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the regional and national parliaments, the regional organisations relating to ACP countries, and the EIB.

RESOLUTION (1)

on challenges for family farming and small-scale agriculture production in ACP countries

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,

| — | meeting in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016, |
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—

meeting in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016,

| — | having regard to its resolutions of 28 June 2007 on poverty reduction for small farmers in ACP countries and of 27 November 2013 on the social and environmental impact of pastoralism in ACP countries, |
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—

having regard to its resolutions of 28 June 2007 on poverty reduction for small farmers in ACP countries and of 27 November 2013 on the social and environmental impact of pastoralism in ACP countries,

| — | having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement), in particular Articles 23 and 34 thereof, and to the revisions of the Cotonou Agreement adopted in 2005 and 2010 (2), |
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—

having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement), in particular Articles 23 and 34 thereof, and to the revisions of the Cotonou Agreement adopted in 2005 and 2010 (2),

| — | having regard to the European Parliament resolutions of 27 September 2011 on an EU policy framework to assist developing countries in addressing food security challenges (3), of 11 December 2013 on the EU approach to resilience and disaster risk reduction in developing countries: learning from food security crises (4), of 13 March 2014 on the role of property rights, property ownership and wealth creation in eradicating poverty and fostering sustainable development in developing countries (5), of 12 March 2015 on Tanzania, notably the issue of land grabbing (6), and of 7 June 2016 on the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (7), |
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—

having regard to the European Parliament resolutions of 27 September 2011 on an EU policy framework to assist developing countries in addressing food security challenges (3), of 11 December 2013 on the EU approach to resilience and disaster risk reduction in developing countries: learning from food security crises (4), of 13 March 2014 on the role of property rights, property ownership and wealth creation in eradicating poverty and fostering sustainable development in developing countries (5), of 12 March 2015 on Tanzania, notably the issue of land grabbing (6), and of 7 June 2016 on the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (7),

| — | having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on an EU policy framework to assist developing countries in addressing food security challenges, adopted on 31 March 2010 (8), and to the Council conclusions on the policy framework adopted on 10 May 2010 (9), |
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—

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on an EU policy framework to assist developing countries in addressing food security challenges, adopted on 31 March 2010 (8), and to the Council conclusions on the policy framework adopted on 10 May 2010 (9),

| — | having regard to the Council conclusions of 28 May 2013 on food and nutrition security in external assistance (10), |
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—

having regard to the Council conclusions of 28 May 2013 on food and nutrition security in external assistance (10),

| — | having regard to the Commission’s Action Plan on Nutrition of 3 July 2014 (11), |
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—

having regard to the Commission’s Action Plan on Nutrition of 3 July 2014 (11),

| — | having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit and the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, and in particular to Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out therein, namely to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (12), |
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—

having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit and the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, and in particular to Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out therein, namely to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (12),

| — | having regard to the Paris Agreement of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted on 12 December 2015 (13), |
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—

having regard to the Paris Agreement of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted on 12 December 2015 (13),

| — | having regard to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) agreed by the African Union (AU) in 2002 (14), |
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—

having regard to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) agreed by the African Union (AU) in 2002 (14),

| — | having regard to the summit of AU Heads of State held in Maputo (Mozambique) in 2003, at which the AU governments agreed to invest more than 10 % of their total national budget allocations in the agricultural sector (15), |
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—

having regard to the summit of AU Heads of State held in Maputo (Mozambique) in 2003, at which the AU governments agreed to invest more than 10 % of their total national budget allocations in the agricultural sector (15),

| — | having regard to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 16 December 1966, |
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—

having regard to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 16 December 1966,

| — | having regard to the UN International Year of Family Farming 2014 (16), |
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—

having regard to the UN International Year of Family Farming 2014 (16),

| — | having regard to the African Union ‘Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa: Securing, Protecting and Improving the Lives, Livelihoods and Rights of Pastoralist Communities’ adopted by the Conference of African Ministers of Agriculture in October 2010 and approved by its Executive Council at the 18th ordinary session held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in January 2011, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the African Union ‘Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa: Securing, Protecting and Improving the Lives, Livelihoods and Rights of Pastoralist Communities’ adopted by the Conference of African Ministers of Agriculture in October 2010 and approved by its Executive Council at the 18th ordinary session held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in January 2011,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on corporate liability for serious human rights abuses in third countries (17), |
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—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on corporate liability for serious human rights abuses in third countries (17),

| — | having regard to the assembly of AU Heads of State and Government of July 2012, which designated 2014 the ‘Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa’ (18), marking the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the CAADP, |
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—

having regard to the assembly of AU Heads of State and Government of July 2012, which designated 2014 the ‘Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa’ (18), marking the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the CAADP,

| — | having regard to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact of 15 October 2015, put forward by Milan City Council and signed by 113 cities around the world, which was submitted to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and illustrates the key role played by cities in policymaking on sustainable food, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact of 15 October 2015, put forward by Milan City Council and signed by 113 cities around the world, which was submitted to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and illustrates the key role played by cities in policymaking on sustainable food,

| — | having regard to the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, adopted on 27 June 2014 by the summit of AU Heads of State held in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), whereby the AU governments recommitted to allocating at least 10 % of public spending to agriculture (19), |
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—

having regard to the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, adopted on 27 June 2014 by the summit of AU Heads of State held in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), whereby the AU governments recommitted to allocating at least 10 % of public spending to agriculture (19),

| — | having regard to the G8 L’Aquila Food Security Initiative of 2009 (20), |
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—

having regard to the G8 L’Aquila Food Security Initiative of 2009 (20),

| — | having regard to the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa (F&G), adopted by the Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Land and Livestock which took place in April 2009 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) (21), and to the Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa (22) adopted by the AU Heads of State at the summit held in Sirte (Libya) in July 2009, urging effective implementation of the F&G, |
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—

having regard to the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa (F&G), adopted by the Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Land and Livestock which took place in April 2009 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) (21), and to the Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa (22) adopted by the AU Heads of State at the summit held in Sirte (Libya) in July 2009, urging effective implementation of the F&G,

| — | having regard to the Guiding Principles on Large Scale Land Based Investments in Africa, adopted by the AU Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture, meeting in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on 1 and 2 May 2014, |
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—

having regard to the Guiding Principles on Large Scale Land Based Investments in Africa, adopted by the AU Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture, meeting in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on 1 and 2 May 2014,

| — | having regard to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) ‘Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security’ of 2004 (23), |
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—

having regard to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) ‘Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security’ of 2004 (23),

| — | having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, |
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—

having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,

| — | having regard to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 1979 (24), |
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—

having regard to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 1979 (24),

| — | having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 1987 (25), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 1987 (25),

| — | having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007 (26), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007 (26),

| — | having regard to the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on development-based evictions and displacement of 2007 (27), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on development-based evictions and displacement of 2007 (27),

| — | having regard to the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011 (28), and to the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, updated in 2011 (29), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011 (28), and to the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, updated in 2011 (29),

| — | having regard to the 2011 Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (30), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the 2011 Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (30),

| — | having regard to the 2012 Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) (31), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the 2012 Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) (31),

| — | having regard to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention) of 1991 (32), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention) of 1991 (32),

| — | having regard to the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ETOP), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ETOP),

| — | having regard to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of 2001 (33), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of 2001 (33),

| — | having regard to the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992 and the associated Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of 2000 and Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation of 2010 (34), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992 and the associated Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of 2000 and Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation of 2010 (34),

| — | having regard to Article 18(1) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Article 18(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment (ACP-EU/xxx.xxx vxx-xx), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment (ACP-EU/xxx.xxx vxx-xx),

| A. | whereas small-scale producers and in particular indigenous peoples, family farmers, women, pastoralists and fishers, usually lack recognition of their land rights, thereby making them vulnerable to inadequate land deals, expropriation without consent or lack of fair compensation; |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas small-scale producers and in particular indigenous peoples, family farmers, women, pastoralists and fishers, usually lack recognition of their land rights, thereby making them vulnerable to inadequate land deals, expropriation without consent or lack of fair compensation;

| B. | whereas the disadvantages of land grabbing outweigh the advantages; whereas settlements have been burnt and destroyed to make way for developers, and available relocation sites are frequently far from the central business areas thus forcing farmers to reside away from their main source of income; |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the disadvantages of land grabbing outweigh the advantages; whereas settlements have been burnt and destroyed to make way for developers, and available relocation sites are frequently far from the central business areas thus forcing farmers to reside away from their main source of income;

| C. | whereas direct allocation and private investment in small-scale farming has been declining over the last thirty years in the ACP countries, while low-income countries’ dependence on food imports has grown, rendering them vulnerable to price variations on international markets; |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas direct allocation and private investment in small-scale farming has been declining over the last thirty years in the ACP countries, while low-income countries’ dependence on food imports has grown, rendering them vulnerable to price variations on international markets;

| D. | whereas increasing the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale producers is key to poverty alleviation in ACP countries, by contributing to food and labour security, and leading to less encroachment on land rights; |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas increasing the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale producers is key to poverty alleviation in ACP countries, by contributing to food and labour security, and leading to less encroachment on land rights;

| E. | whereas large public-private partnerships (PPPs) create dominant positions for large agricultural companies in ACP agriculture that exclude local businesses; |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas large public-private partnerships (PPPs) create dominant positions for large agricultural companies in ACP agriculture that exclude local businesses;

| F. | whereas the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change of December 2015 highlight the importance of developing a model of agriculture that improves resilience and creates sustainable food systems; |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change of December 2015 highlight the importance of developing a model of agriculture that improves resilience and creates sustainable food systems;

| G. | whereas the food crisis of 2008 generated universal recognition of the need to support smallholder food production for domestic markets; |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas the food crisis of 2008 generated universal recognition of the need to support smallholder food production for domestic markets;

| H. | whereas the launch of structural adjustment programmes in the early 1980s developed an export-led agriculture in which priority was given to increasing the production of cash crops for global markets; whereas this choice favoured large-scale, highly capitalised and mechanised forms of production, while small-scale farming was comparatively neglected; |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas the launch of structural adjustment programmes in the early 1980s developed an export-led agriculture in which priority was given to increasing the production of cash crops for global markets; whereas this choice favoured large-scale, highly capitalised and mechanised forms of production, while small-scale farming was comparatively neglected;

| I. | whereas international markets will be more volatile in the future; whereas countries should not take the risk of being excessively dependent on imports, but should, rather, invest primarily in domestic food production to build resilience; |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas international markets will be more volatile in the future; whereas countries should not take the risk of being excessively dependent on imports, but should, rather, invest primarily in domestic food production to build resilience;

| J. | whereas so-called ‘growth poles’ are aimed at attracting international investors by making land available to big private companies, and whereas this must not be done at the expense of family farmers; |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas so-called ‘growth poles’ are aimed at attracting international investors by making land available to big private companies, and whereas this must not be done at the expense of family farmers;

| K. | whereas farmers’ right to produce, exchange and sell seeds freely underpins 90 % of agricultural livelihoods in Africa, while seed diversity is vital in building the resilience of farming to climate change; |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas farmers’ right to produce, exchange and sell seeds freely underpins 90 % of agricultural livelihoods in Africa, while seed diversity is vital in building the resilience of farming to climate change;

| L. | whereas family farmers and smallholders have demonstrated their ability to provide diversified products, including livestock and fisheries, and to increase food production sustainably by means of agro-ecological practices; |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas family farmers and smallholders have demonstrated their ability to provide diversified products, including livestock and fisheries, and to increase food production sustainably by means of agro-ecological practices;

| M. | whereas monocultures can increase dependency on chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and can lead to massive land degradation and contribute to climate change; |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas monocultures can increase dependency on chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and can lead to massive land degradation and contribute to climate change;

| N. | whereas large-scale agriculture in Africa accounts for at least 14 % of total annual greenhouse gas emissions, mostly owing to the use of nitrogen fertilisers, and making the continent the third largest emitter since the year 2000 (35); |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas large-scale agriculture in Africa accounts for at least 14 % of total annual greenhouse gas emissions, mostly owing to the use of nitrogen fertilisers, and making the continent the third largest emitter since the year 2000 (35);

| O. | whereas gender and training are very important dimensions of investment in agriculture in ACP countries; whereas the empowerment of women in small-scale agriculture as active and skilled agents of change is crucial to the economic development of the sector; whereas rural women have long been discriminated against as regards access to a range of productive resources, including land, credit, inputs and services; |
| --- | --- |

O.

whereas gender and training are very important dimensions of investment in agriculture in ACP countries; whereas the empowerment of women in small-scale agriculture as active and skilled agents of change is crucial to the economic development of the sector; whereas rural women have long been discriminated against as regards access to a range of productive resources, including land, credit, inputs and services;

| P. | whereas the FAO estimates that about 75 % of plant genetic diversity has been lost worldwide; whereas wide-scale genetic erosion increases our vulnerability to climate change and to the appearance of new pests and diseases; |
| --- | --- |

P.

whereas the FAO estimates that about 75 % of plant genetic diversity has been lost worldwide; whereas wide-scale genetic erosion increases our vulnerability to climate change and to the appearance of new pests and diseases;

| Q. | whereas control, ownership and affordability of seeds are essential to the food security resilience of poor farmers; |
| --- | --- |

Q.

whereas control, ownership and affordability of seeds are essential to the food security resilience of poor farmers;

| R. | whereas family farms often achieve higher productivity in terms of land than larger farms and use more labour per hectare than their larger counterparts; |
| --- | --- |

R.

whereas family farms often achieve higher productivity in terms of land than larger farms and use more labour per hectare than their larger counterparts;

| S. | whereas in Africa access to water for farmers is a major issue; whereas supporting smallholder irrigation through finance and technical assistance could significantly improve productivity and income as access to water provides an opportunity for local development; |
| --- | --- |

S.

whereas in Africa access to water for farmers is a major issue; whereas supporting smallholder irrigation through finance and technical assistance could significantly improve productivity and income as access to water provides an opportunity for local development;

| T. | whereas many small-scale farmers and rural communities adhere to traditional practices and continue to supplement their protein intake from animals caught in the wild (bushmeat); whereas this is increasingly shown to be unsustainable; |
| --- | --- |

T.

whereas many small-scale farmers and rural communities adhere to traditional practices and continue to supplement their protein intake from animals caught in the wild (bushmeat); whereas this is increasingly shown to be unsustainable;

| U. | whereas family farming and smallholders affect the economic, political and socio-cultural development of developing countries, which will have a direct impact on the process of nation building; whereas the failure of the nation-building process might result in political instability, social unrest, injustice and socio-cultural stagnation leading to failed states; |
| --- | --- |

U.

whereas family farming and smallholders affect the economic, political and socio-cultural development of developing countries, which will have a direct impact on the process of nation building; whereas the failure of the nation-building process might result in political instability, social unrest, injustice and socio-cultural stagnation leading to failed states;

| V. | whereas family farms are a major source of intergenerational solidarity and social and environmental responsibility, thus promoting sustainable development in even the most impoverished regions; |
| --- | --- |

V.

whereas family farms are a major source of intergenerational solidarity and social and environmental responsibility, thus promoting sustainable development in even the most impoverished regions;

| W. | whereas the world’s population, about 7,2 billion people, lives from agricultural production systems represented by over 570 million farms around the world; whereas small-scale agriculture represents the majority of farming systems in the world; whereas, globally, 73 % of farmers have less than 1 ha of land, and whereas 85 % have less than 2 ha; whereas smallholders contribute to a large part of agricultural production in the developing world and play a fundamental role in food security, economic growth, employment generation and poverty alleviation; |
| --- | --- |

W.

whereas the world’s population, about 7,2 billion people, lives from agricultural production systems represented by over 570 million farms around the world; whereas small-scale agriculture represents the majority of farming systems in the world; whereas, globally, 73 % of farmers have less than 1 ha of land, and whereas 85 % have less than 2 ha; whereas smallholders contribute to a large part of agricultural production in the developing world and play a fundamental role in food security, economic growth, employment generation and poverty alleviation;

| X. | whereas the absence of context-specific policies pertinent to the realities of each ACP country advocating support for family farmers and smallholders with a view to developing self-reliance and sustainable farming practices adds to the diverse and complex challenges facing them; |
| --- | --- |

X.

whereas the absence of context-specific policies pertinent to the realities of each ACP country advocating support for family farmers and smallholders with a view to developing self-reliance and sustainable farming practices adds to the diverse and complex challenges facing them;

| Y. | whereas innovation in the agricultural sector is a crucial factor in improving efficiency of labour and land use, thus enabling families that own and operate farms to escape poverty and achieve prosperity; |
| --- | --- |

Y.

whereas innovation in the agricultural sector is a crucial factor in improving efficiency of labour and land use, thus enabling families that own and operate farms to escape poverty and achieve prosperity;

| Z. | whereas a lack of suitable local agricultural research, rural advisory services and training, among other things, to help family farmers and smallholders has become an impediment for the development of this sector; |
| --- | --- |

Z.

whereas a lack of suitable local agricultural research, rural advisory services and training, among other things, to help family farmers and smallholders has become an impediment for the development of this sector;

| AA. | whereas family farms often provide the only opportunity for young people to be employed and acquire working skills; |
| --- | --- |

AA.

whereas family farms often provide the only opportunity for young people to be employed and acquire working skills;

| 1. | Calls on governments and donors to suspend or review all policies and projects that directly encourage and facilitate land grabbing or indirectly increase pressure on land and natural resources and can result in serious human rights violations; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Calls on governments and donors to suspend or review all policies and projects that directly encourage and facilitate land grabbing or indirectly increase pressure on land and natural resources and can result in serious human rights violations;

| 2. | Recalls that the SDGs include the goal of promoting sustainable agriculture, to be achieved by 2030; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Recalls that the SDGs include the goal of promoting sustainable agriculture, to be achieved by 2030;

| 3. | Urges the EU Member States to create genuine tools for sustainable development and instruments such as best-practice growing techniques, to support family farming and local economies in sub-Saharan Africa, recalling that family farmers and smallholders produce about 80 % of the world’s food and provide over 60 % of employment in ACP countries; stresses that yields are an essential determinant of income in small-scale agriculture; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Urges the EU Member States to create genuine tools for sustainable development and instruments such as best-practice growing techniques, to support family farming and local economies in sub-Saharan Africa, recalling that family farmers and smallholders produce about 80 % of the world’s food and provide over 60 % of employment in ACP countries; stresses that yields are an essential determinant of income in small-scale agriculture;

| 4. | Calls on the EU, its Member States and the ACP countries to encourage the participation of family farms in programmes supporting innovation and wider application of existing technologies and practices; notes that the development, adaptation and application of new technologies and farm management practices should take into consideration the specific structure of family farming in each country as recommended by the FAO in its report entitled ‘State of Food and Agriculture — Innovation in Family Farming’; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the EU, its Member States and the ACP countries to encourage the participation of family farms in programmes supporting innovation and wider application of existing technologies and practices; notes that the development, adaptation and application of new technologies and farm management practices should take into consideration the specific structure of family farming in each country as recommended by the FAO in its report entitled ‘State of Food and Agriculture — Innovation in Family Farming’;

| 5. | Stresses that small-scale agriculture accounts for more than 80 % of agricultural production worldwide and plays an important role in food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable management of natural resources; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Stresses that small-scale agriculture accounts for more than 80 % of agricultural production worldwide and plays an important role in food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable management of natural resources;

| 6. | Calls on the ACP countries to do more to encourage young people to support family farming; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Calls on the ACP countries to do more to encourage young people to support family farming;

| 7. | Notes that an ageing farming population, limited access to social protection, assets, financial services, markets and effective extension services and the weak organisation of farmers are severely constraining the development of small-scale agriculture and limiting opportunities for youth employment in agriculture; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Notes that an ageing farming population, limited access to social protection, assets, financial services, markets and effective extension services and the weak organisation of farmers are severely constraining the development of small-scale agriculture and limiting opportunities for youth employment in agriculture;

| 8. | Recalls that despite the many constraints it is facing, family farming and small-scale agriculture can still play an important role in food security, economic growth and poverty alleviation and has the potential to create decent jobs for women and men in rural areas; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Recalls that despite the many constraints it is facing, family farming and small-scale agriculture can still play an important role in food security, economic growth and poverty alleviation and has the potential to create decent jobs for women and men in rural areas;

| 9. | Calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that EU-based investors respect the rights of local communities and the needs of small farms, through effective implementation of international standards that regulate responsible investment in agriculture, including the AU’s Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa and its Guiding Principles on Large Scale Land Based Investments in Africa, and abide by the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that EU-based investors respect the rights of local communities and the needs of small farms, through effective implementation of international standards that regulate responsible investment in agriculture, including the AU’s Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa and its Guiding Principles on Large Scale Land Based Investments in Africa, and abide by the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises;

| 10. | Stresses that support is needed not only for small-scale farmers, but also for the rural small and medium-sized enterprises that buy products from small-scale farmers and supply goods to them; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Stresses that support is needed not only for small-scale farmers, but also for the rural small and medium-sized enterprises that buy products from small-scale farmers and supply goods to them;

| 11. | Recalls the importance of a healthy and vibrant services sector that connects small-scale farming to wider markets, in order to enable smallholders to upscale their businesses and to develop; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Recalls the importance of a healthy and vibrant services sector that connects small-scale farming to wider markets, in order to enable smallholders to upscale their businesses and to develop;

| 12. | Recalls that the 2013 discovery of a large aquifer in Kenya shows that, far from being dry, Africa has abundant water resources; stresses that the problem for farmers is access and that only around 6 % of cultivated land is equipped for irrigation, leaving millions dependent on rain-fed agriculture; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Recalls that the 2013 discovery of a large aquifer in Kenya shows that, far from being dry, Africa has abundant water resources; stresses that the problem for farmers is access and that only around 6 % of cultivated land is equipped for irrigation, leaving millions dependent on rain-fed agriculture;

| 13. | Recalls that access to water for farmers in Africa is a major issue and an opportunity for local development, and stresses that another constraint is the lack of detailed hydro-geological mapping for Africa as a whole; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Recalls that access to water for farmers in Africa is a major issue and an opportunity for local development, and stresses that another constraint is the lack of detailed hydro-geological mapping for Africa as a whole;

| 14. | Underlines the importance of finding a way to carry out hydro-geological mapping and make the resulting information public or available to smallholders, since this would fundamentally change the agricultural landscape and farming economics; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Underlines the importance of finding a way to carry out hydro-geological mapping and make the resulting information public or available to smallholders, since this would fundamentally change the agricultural landscape and farming economics;

| 15. | Recalls that when agriculture is able to grow at a local level, farmers are able to earn more capital, which can be reinvested locally, thus enhancing capacity and efficiency and increasing returns; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Recalls that when agriculture is able to grow at a local level, farmers are able to earn more capital, which can be reinvested locally, thus enhancing capacity and efficiency and increasing returns;

| 16. | Notes with concern that many land deals breach the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPCI) of the communities involved; in particular, points out that the decision-making process in the cooperation framework of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) has not involved all stakeholders, particularly small farmers; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Notes with concern that many land deals breach the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPCI) of the communities involved; in particular, points out that the decision-making process in the cooperation framework of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) has not involved all stakeholders, particularly small farmers;

| 17. | Stresses the need to revitalise public investment in ACP agriculture and to prioritise investment in agricultural extension including training, and agro-ecology awareness, in line with the conclusions of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and the SDGs; |
| --- | --- |

17.

Stresses the need to revitalise public investment in ACP agriculture and to prioritise investment in agricultural extension including training, and agro-ecology awareness, in line with the conclusions of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and the SDGs;

| 18. | Observes that agricultural investment policies mostly focus on large-scale land acquisitions and on export-oriented agriculture that is unrelated to local economies; calls, therefore, also for the promotion of organic farming in ACP countries; recalls that for a majority of the population of Africa, access to land and tenure security are essential for the enjoyment of the right to food; calls on African countries to recognise all legitimate rights to land, including informal, indigenous and customary tenure rights, to support family and smallholder farming and to combat land grabbing; |
| --- | --- |

18.

Observes that agricultural investment policies mostly focus on large-scale land acquisitions and on export-oriented agriculture that is unrelated to local economies; calls, therefore, also for the promotion of organic farming in ACP countries; recalls that for a majority of the population of Africa, access to land and tenure security are essential for the enjoyment of the right to food; calls on African countries to recognise all legitimate rights to land, including informal, indigenous and customary tenure rights, to support family and smallholder farming and to combat land grabbing;

| 19. | Stresses that user rights derived from customary tenure, such as those of pastoralists, should be recognised and protected by a legal system, in line with the provisions and rulings of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Stresses that user rights derived from customary tenure, such as those of pastoralists, should be recognised and protected by a legal system, in line with the provisions and rulings of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights;

| 20. | Recalls that the FAO Tenure Guidelines, including those on pastoralism, recommend secure access to land; calls on the EU to proactively track and monitor land deals involving EU actors; stresses that private companies involved in PPPs, such as the NAFSN, should be accountable for their actions; to this end, calls on parties to the NAFSN to set up a strict accountability and monitoring mechanism, including judicial remedies for local people and communities affected by land deals; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Recalls that the FAO Tenure Guidelines, including those on pastoralism, recommend secure access to land; calls on the EU to proactively track and monitor land deals involving EU actors; stresses that private companies involved in PPPs, such as the NAFSN, should be accountable for their actions; to this end, calls on parties to the NAFSN to set up a strict accountability and monitoring mechanism, including judicial remedies for local people and communities affected by land deals;

| 21. | Calls for governments and agencies to monitor reliance on wild-caught protein, and to plan for its replacement before the ecosystem is damaged irreversibly; |
| --- | --- |

21.

Calls for governments and agencies to monitor reliance on wild-caught protein, and to plan for its replacement before the ecosystem is damaged irreversibly;

| 22. | Recalls that farmers’ rights to produce, exchange and sell seeds freely underpins 90 % of agricultural livelihoods in Africa, and is of considerable importance in all ACP countries, and that seed diversity is vital in building resilience of farming to climate change; deplores the corporate requests to strengthen plant breeders’ rights in line with the 1991 International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants Convention, which prohibits the majority of such informal arrangements; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Recalls that farmers’ rights to produce, exchange and sell seeds freely underpins 90 % of agricultural livelihoods in Africa, and is of considerable importance in all ACP countries, and that seed diversity is vital in building resilience of farming to climate change; deplores the corporate requests to strengthen plant breeders’ rights in line with the 1991 International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants Convention, which prohibits the majority of such informal arrangements;

| 23. | Notes that the introduction and spread of certified seeds in Africa, while adding to land productivity and crop yields, may increase the risk of smallholder dependence and indebtedness; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Notes that the introduction and spread of certified seeds in Africa, while adding to land productivity and crop yields, may increase the risk of smallholder dependence and indebtedness;

| 24. | Recalls that in Europe, the free movement of goods and services has stimulated food production and strengthened food security; in this respect, stresses the importance of regional free trade agreements and reliable infrastructure that enables small and family farmers to reach beyond their local markets; |
| --- | --- |

24.

Recalls that in Europe, the free movement of goods and services has stimulated food production and strengthened food security; in this respect, stresses the importance of regional free trade agreements and reliable infrastructure that enables small and family farmers to reach beyond their local markets;

| 25. | Urges the Commission to ensure that the commitments made to farmers’ rights by the EU under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture are reflected in technical assistance and financial support for seed policy; calls for the EU to support intellectual property rights that enhance the development of locally-adapted seed varieties and farmer-saved seeds; |
| --- | --- |

25.

Urges the Commission to ensure that the commitments made to farmers’ rights by the EU under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture are reflected in technical assistance and financial support for seed policy; calls for the EU to support intellectual property rights that enhance the development of locally-adapted seed varieties and farmer-saved seeds;

| 26. | Urges the G8 member states not to support GMO crops in the ACP countries; recalls that the African Model Law on Biosafety sets a high benchmark for biosafety; believes that all assistance from foreign donors in developing biosafety at national and regional levels should be framed accordingly; |
| --- | --- |

26.

Urges the G8 member states not to support GMO crops in the ACP countries; recalls that the African Model Law on Biosafety sets a high benchmark for biosafety; believes that all assistance from foreign donors in developing biosafety at national and regional levels should be framed accordingly;

| 27. | Calls on the governments of ACP countries to do their utmost to support family farming and smallholders by stressing the need to create policies that foster social justice and develop self-reliant and sustainable farming practices, and to come up with context-specific policies pertinent to each ACP country and to encourage appropriate agricultural research, rural advisory services and training, as well as other relevant technical and financial support; |
| --- | --- |

27.

Calls on the governments of ACP countries to do their utmost to support family farming and smallholders by stressing the need to create policies that foster social justice and develop self-reliant and sustainable farming practices, and to come up with context-specific policies pertinent to each ACP country and to encourage appropriate agricultural research, rural advisory services and training, as well as other relevant technical and financial support;

| 28. | Emphasises the importance of supporting and encouraging the involvement of women farmers in decision-making processes, given that in many ACP countries they bear the main responsibility for looking after their families and at the same time do most of the subsistence farming work; |
| --- | --- |

28.

Emphasises the importance of supporting and encouraging the involvement of women farmers in decision-making processes, given that in many ACP countries they bear the main responsibility for looking after their families and at the same time do most of the subsistence farming work;

| 29. | Draws attention to the problems which women farmers face in obtaining capital and gaining access to farmland; notes that easier access to investment capital is the prerequisite for improving the socio-economic situation of women and, in that connection, calls for women’s access to sources of financing and to specific training measures which can facilitate that access to be encouraged, supported and made easier; |
| --- | --- |

29.

Draws attention to the problems which women farmers face in obtaining capital and gaining access to farmland; notes that easier access to investment capital is the prerequisite for improving the socio-economic situation of women and, in that connection, calls for women’s access to sources of financing and to specific training measures which can facilitate that access to be encouraged, supported and made easier;

| 30. | Notes that social security and legal recognition, in particular as regards title and the right to inherit or bequeath, must be improved for women farmers, so that they are guaranteed the same rights as men; |
| --- | --- |

30.

Notes that social security and legal recognition, in particular as regards title and the right to inherit or bequeath, must be improved for women farmers, so that they are guaranteed the same rights as men;

| 31. | Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the regional and national parliaments of the ACP countries and the EU Member States, and the regional organisations of ACP countries. |
| --- | --- |

31.

Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the regional and national parliaments of the ACP countries and the EU Member States, and the regional organisations of ACP countries.

RESOLUTION (36)

on the impact of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,

| — | meeting in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016, |
| --- | --- |

—

meeting in Nairobi (Kenya) from 19 to 21 December 2016,

| — | having regard to Article 18(2) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Article 18(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the statements by EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on the impact of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the statements by EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on the impact of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti,

| — | having regard to the UN Security Council Secretary-General’s report of 31 August 2016 on the UN stabilisation mission in Haiti, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the UN Security Council Secretary-General’s report of 31 August 2016 on the UN stabilisation mission in Haiti,

| — | having regard to the statement of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien on 9 October 2016, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the statement of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien on 9 October 2016,

| — | having regard to the statement on the humanitarian situation in Haiti by the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Peter Thomson, of 10 October 2016, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the statement on the humanitarian situation in Haiti by the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Peter Thomson, of 10 October 2016,

| — | having regard to the announcement by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, launching the Multi-Partner Trust Fund as a part of the Haiti Cholera Response Plan, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the announcement by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, launching the Multi-Partner Trust Fund as a part of the Haiti Cholera Response Plan,

| — | having regard to the statement by H.E. Dr Patrick I. Gomes, Secretary-General of the ACP group of states, at the 43rd session of the ACP parliamentary assembly meeting of 12 October 2016, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the statement by H.E. Dr Patrick I. Gomes, Secretary-General of the ACP group of states, at the 43rd session of the ACP parliamentary assembly meeting of 12 October 2016,

| — | having regard to the Joint Caribbean-European Union Partnership Strategy, adopted in November 2012, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Joint Caribbean-European Union Partnership Strategy, adopted in November 2012,

| — | having regard to the Rapid Food Security Assessment Post-Hurricane Matthew published by CNSA and FAO, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Rapid Food Security Assessment Post-Hurricane Matthew published by CNSA and FAO,

| — | having regard to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH),

| — | having regard to the Cotonou Agreement, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,

| A. | whereas Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti violently on 4 October 2016, especially the Grand’Anse and South Departments, resulting in the greatest humanitarian emergency since the 2010 earthquake, causing widespread damage and flooding, and resulting in hundreds of deaths and leaving more than 1,4 million people in need of assistance in Haiti; whereas Haiti has barely recovered economically from the earthquake which struck on 12 January 2010; |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti violently on 4 October 2016, especially the Grand’Anse and South Departments, resulting in the greatest humanitarian emergency since the 2010 earthquake, causing widespread damage and flooding, and resulting in hundreds of deaths and leaving more than 1,4 million people in need of assistance in Haiti; whereas Haiti has barely recovered economically from the earthquake which struck on 12 January 2010;

| B. | whereas on 10 October 2016 the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in collaboration with humanitarian partners in support of the national government, launched an appeal to raise USD 119 million in a span of 3 months in order to reach out to about 750 000 people in need of life assistance and protection in Haiti; |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas on 10 October 2016 the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in collaboration with humanitarian partners in support of the national government, launched an appeal to raise USD 119 million in a span of 3 months in order to reach out to about 750 000 people in need of life assistance and protection in Haiti;

| C. | whereas Haiti is a fragile country which has been particularly susceptible to natural and man-made disasters; whereas a political crisis left the country with no functional parliament throughout 2015 and with no elected successor when the incumbent President’s term expired on 7 February 2016; whereas Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than half of its 10-million population malnourished; whereas it is one of the least egalitarian countries in the world, with a Gini coefficient of 0,61 in 2012; |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas Haiti is a fragile country which has been particularly susceptible to natural and man-made disasters; whereas a political crisis left the country with no functional parliament throughout 2015 and with no elected successor when the incumbent President’s term expired on 7 February 2016; whereas Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than half of its 10-million population malnourished; whereas it is one of the least egalitarian countries in the world, with a Gini coefficient of 0,61 in 2012;

| D. | whereas the El Niño phenomenon has exacerbated food and nutritional insecurity; |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the El Niño phenomenon has exacerbated food and nutritional insecurity;

| E. | whereas Haiti is among the countries in the world to have witnessed the most deforestation, with this reducing its resistance to natural disasters; whereas its dependence on charcoal and firewood as sources of energy is the main cause of that deforestation; |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas Haiti is among the countries in the world to have witnessed the most deforestation, with this reducing its resistance to natural disasters; whereas its dependence on charcoal and firewood as sources of energy is the main cause of that deforestation;

| F. | whereas since 2010 the local authorities in Haiti have been pushing preventive actions to develop the disaster risk management system; whereas their decision to evacuate some populations, albeit insufficient, has saved lives; |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas since 2010 the local authorities in Haiti have been pushing preventive actions to develop the disaster risk management system; whereas their decision to evacuate some populations, albeit insufficient, has saved lives;

| G. | whereas people in Haiti are highly dependent on imported food owing to the fall in local production, which normally constitutes the main source of income for the most vulnerable households; |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas people in Haiti are highly dependent on imported food owing to the fall in local production, which normally constitutes the main source of income for the most vulnerable households;

| H. | whereas the hurricane, which struck during the second main harvest season, has compromised food security levels; large areas of crops have been destroyed; whereas Haiti is facing an increase in the already high risk of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera, severe food insecurity and malnutrition in the main affected cities of the southern area; |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas the hurricane, which struck during the second main harvest season, has compromised food security levels; large areas of crops have been destroyed; whereas Haiti is facing an increase in the already high risk of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera, severe food insecurity and malnutrition in the main affected cities of the southern area;

| I. | whereas the World Food Programme has moved 500 tonnes of food, including locally produced rice and peas, to the western part of Haiti; whereas the World Health Organisation has dispatched 1 million cholera vaccine doses; |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas the World Food Programme has moved 500 tonnes of food, including locally produced rice and peas, to the western part of Haiti; whereas the World Health Organisation has dispatched 1 million cholera vaccine doses;

| J. | whereas in early November 2016 there was a marked increase in rescue operations; whereas, however, incidents have recently been reported in connection with the distribution of humanitarian aid that have resulted in demonstrations and deaths; |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas in early November 2016 there was a marked increase in rescue operations; whereas, however, incidents have recently been reported in connection with the distribution of humanitarian aid that have resulted in demonstrations and deaths;

| K. | whereas since the 2010 outbreak, UNICEF, in partnership with the Haitian Government, has been fighting waterborne diseases — including cholera — by improving access to water, sanitation and health services; whereas on 8 November 2016 the Haitian Government, with support from the UN and other institutions, launched a vaccination campaign against cholera in the areas hit hard by Hurricane Matthew; |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas since the 2010 outbreak, UNICEF, in partnership with the Haitian Government, has been fighting waterborne diseases — including cholera — by improving access to water, sanitation and health services; whereas on 8 November 2016 the Haitian Government, with support from the UN and other institutions, launched a vaccination campaign against cholera in the areas hit hard by Hurricane Matthew;

| L. | whereas the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated with initial humanitarian assistance of EUR 255 000, and a team of eleven EU civil protection experts from Denmark, Finland, France, Romania and Sweden deployed to Haiti: whereas expertise in emergency coordination, logistics, water and sanitation, and health is provided; |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated with initial humanitarian assistance of EUR 255 000, and a team of eleven EU civil protection experts from Denmark, Finland, France, Romania and Sweden deployed to Haiti: whereas expertise in emergency coordination, logistics, water and sanitation, and health is provided;

| M. | whereas by mid-October, thanks to MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti) engineers and local authorities, the roads have been cleared and there is access from Port-au-Prince to areas in the south-west of the country, including Les Cayes and Jérémie; whereas MINUSTAH is also providing security for humanitarian convoys, distributing water purification systems and reviewing police stations; |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas by mid-October, thanks to MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti) engineers and local authorities, the roads have been cleared and there is access from Port-au-Prince to areas in the south-west of the country, including Les Cayes and Jérémie; whereas MINUSTAH is also providing security for humanitarian convoys, distributing water purification systems and reviewing police stations;

| N. | whereas the UN Security Council has decided to extend by six months the mandate of the MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti); |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas the UN Security Council has decided to extend by six months the mandate of the MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti);

| O. | whereas the presidential elections of November 2016 were conducted in a satisfactory manner and followed a democratic process, and whereas a new legitimately-elected president will be invested at the end of the electoral process; |
| --- | --- |

O.

whereas the presidential elections of November 2016 were conducted in a satisfactory manner and followed a democratic process, and whereas a new legitimately-elected president will be invested at the end of the electoral process;

| 1. | Express its deepest condolences and sympathies to those affected by Hurricane Mathew, and reiterates its solidarity with the people of Haiti who are suffering as a result of this disastrous phenomenon; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Express its deepest condolences and sympathies to those affected by Hurricane Mathew, and reiterates its solidarity with the people of Haiti who are suffering as a result of this disastrous phenomenon;

| 2. | Welcomes efforts by the Haitian authorities and civil society, as well as by the UN, NGOs and other bilateral donors, to bring aid to the people of Haiti, and pays tribute to the work of organisations and individuals from across the European Union and the ACP countries and throughout the world; welcomes the international solidarity deployed to aid Haiti, and first and foremost the solidarity and support shown at a regional level; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Welcomes efforts by the Haitian authorities and civil society, as well as by the UN, NGOs and other bilateral donors, to bring aid to the people of Haiti, and pays tribute to the work of organisations and individuals from across the European Union and the ACP countries and throughout the world; welcomes the international solidarity deployed to aid Haiti, and first and foremost the solidarity and support shown at a regional level;

| 3. | Welcomes the genuine political will to take a new approach to supporting the reconstruction of the country — without repeating the errors of the past — and to tackle the deep-rooted causes of poverty in Haiti; welcomes EU efforts in providing civil protection expertise, extra humanitarian aid and in-kind assistance to Haiti; calls on the international community and Haiti’s partners to take a coordinated approach and to work with the Haitian Government to provide emergency and post-disaster aid with a view to meeting needs on the ground effectively and appropriately; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Welcomes the genuine political will to take a new approach to supporting the reconstruction of the country — without repeating the errors of the past — and to tackle the deep-rooted causes of poverty in Haiti; welcomes EU efforts in providing civil protection expertise, extra humanitarian aid and in-kind assistance to Haiti; calls on the international community and Haiti’s partners to take a coordinated approach and to work with the Haitian Government to provide emergency and post-disaster aid with a view to meeting needs on the ground effectively and appropriately;

| 4. | Stresses that there is a 60 % financial shortfall in the full funding of the USD 120 million appeal launched by the Haitian Government and the UN; Calls on donors to expedite the fulfilment of their pledges; advocates debt relief for Haiti to enable the reconstruction of the country; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Stresses that there is a 60 % financial shortfall in the full funding of the USD 120 million appeal launched by the Haitian Government and the UN; Calls on donors to expedite the fulfilment of their pledges; advocates debt relief for Haiti to enable the reconstruction of the country;

| 5. | Calls on all parties involved to pay special attention to, and support, women’s participation in the reconstruction efforts by actively involving them in the rehabilitation, reconstruction and evaluation phases; urges all actors providing aid in Haiti to adopt measures to protect women’s and girls’ vulnerability in the aftermath of the storm; greater attention should also be given to children separated from their families; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Calls on all parties involved to pay special attention to, and support, women’s participation in the reconstruction efforts by actively involving them in the rehabilitation, reconstruction and evaluation phases; urges all actors providing aid in Haiti to adopt measures to protect women’s and girls’ vulnerability in the aftermath of the storm; greater attention should also be given to children separated from their families;

| 6. | Welcomes the fact that estimates suggest that 53 400 children were able to return to school in November following the re-opening of schools in the Grand’ Anse and South Departments; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Welcomes the fact that estimates suggest that 53 400 children were able to return to school in November following the re-opening of schools in the Grand’ Anse and South Departments;

| 7. | Commends the efforts of the Haitian Government, the UN and other institutions for the launch of the vaccination campaign against cholera in the areas hit hard by Hurricane Matthew; strongly urges the European Commission and the international community to monitor the health situation of the Haitian population, especially with regard to a possible new cholera outbreak, and for further efforts to support for people affected by the disease and to build sound water, sanitation and health systems; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Commends the efforts of the Haitian Government, the UN and other institutions for the launch of the vaccination campaign against cholera in the areas hit hard by Hurricane Matthew; strongly urges the European Commission and the international community to monitor the health situation of the Haitian population, especially with regard to a possible new cholera outbreak, and for further efforts to support for people affected by the disease and to build sound water, sanitation and health systems;

| 8. | Stresses that Haiti faces severe food insecurity and malnutrition; supports efforts to boost food production locally by rehabilitating damaged infrastructure and making the necessary material (seed, fertiliser and tools) available to agriculture smallholders; calls on the EU and other international donors wherever possible to purchase locally produced food for the relief effort; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Stresses that Haiti faces severe food insecurity and malnutrition; supports efforts to boost food production locally by rehabilitating damaged infrastructure and making the necessary material (seed, fertiliser and tools) available to agriculture smallholders; calls on the EU and other international donors wherever possible to purchase locally produced food for the relief effort;

| 9. | Welcomes the efforts of the Haitian authorities to establish a disaster risk management system, which has helped evacuate some populations; underlines, however, that strengthening communities’ preparedness and resilience must remain priorities; underlines that efforts must be put into drafting reconstruction plans; urges the EU to work with the Haitian authorities to establish a disaster prevention and mitigation mechanism and capacity management for the long term; stresses in this context the need for immediate action to build the capacity of the Haitian state in terms of democracy and good governance, which are essential for national reconstruction, and to ensure that Haitian civil society is involved; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Welcomes the efforts of the Haitian authorities to establish a disaster risk management system, which has helped evacuate some populations; underlines, however, that strengthening communities’ preparedness and resilience must remain priorities; underlines that efforts must be put into drafting reconstruction plans; urges the EU to work with the Haitian authorities to establish a disaster prevention and mitigation mechanism and capacity management for the long term; stresses in this context the need for immediate action to build the capacity of the Haitian state in terms of democracy and good governance, which are essential for national reconstruction, and to ensure that Haitian civil society is involved;

| 10. | Congratulates the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) on respecting the election calendar despite the impact of Hurricane Matthew and, with the support of the Government of Haiti and the national police, for allowing for the 20 November elections to be peaceful and respecting the rights of the electors; raises concern over riots and other forms of violent protests following the elections; calls urgently on the Government of Haiti to take steps to establish and deepen democracy in Haiti; welcomes the successful conclusion of the presidential election process and looks forward with interest to the final results, which should be announced on 29 December 2016; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Congratulates the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) on respecting the election calendar despite the impact of Hurricane Matthew and, with the support of the Government of Haiti and the national police, for allowing for the 20 November elections to be peaceful and respecting the rights of the electors; raises concern over riots and other forms of violent protests following the elections; calls urgently on the Government of Haiti to take steps to establish and deepen democracy in Haiti; welcomes the successful conclusion of the presidential election process and looks forward with interest to the final results, which should be announced on 29 December 2016;

| 11. | Notes the UN Secretary General’s recommendation to extend the MINUSTAH mandate for a period of six months in Haiti; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Notes the UN Secretary General’s recommendation to extend the MINUSTAH mandate for a period of six months in Haiti;

| 12. | Emphasises that deforestation and the degradation of ecosystems is exacerbating Haiti’s vulnerability to natural disasters; urges the European Union to step up international funding for reducing deforestation in Haiti; calls also on the Union to increase its support for the promotion of high energy-efficiency ovens, in order to reduce charcoal consumption, and of renewable energy technologies such as solar power and wind power which show strong potential in Haiti as alternatives to charcoal; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Emphasises that deforestation and the degradation of ecosystems is exacerbating Haiti’s vulnerability to natural disasters; urges the European Union to step up international funding for reducing deforestation in Haiti; calls also on the Union to increase its support for the promotion of high energy-efficiency ovens, in order to reduce charcoal consumption, and of renewable energy technologies such as solar power and wind power which show strong potential in Haiti as alternatives to charcoal;

| 13. | Stresses the pivotal importance of remittances from the Haitian diaspora in directing capital flows; asks the Member States and the Haitian Government to facilitate the delivery of remittances and to work towards reducing their cost; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Stresses the pivotal importance of remittances from the Haitian diaspora in directing capital flows; asks the Member States and the Haitian Government to facilitate the delivery of remittances and to work towards reducing their cost;

| 14. | Points out that climate change is becoming an increasingly major issue when it comes to access to water and food security; notes that additional efforts are needed to ensure the mobilisation of funding for combating climate change and to achieve the target of USD 100 million by 2020; calls on the development partners and the private sector to encourage the investment required for research into and the prompt and comprehensive transfer of mitigation and adaptation technologies to the ACP countries, in particular those countries vulnerable to natural disasters (SIDS and LDCs); urges the international community and the developed countries to step up their funding; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Points out that climate change is becoming an increasingly major issue when it comes to access to water and food security; notes that additional efforts are needed to ensure the mobilisation of funding for combating climate change and to achieve the target of USD 100 million by 2020; calls on the development partners and the private sector to encourage the investment required for research into and the prompt and comprehensive transfer of mitigation and adaptation technologies to the ACP countries, in particular those countries vulnerable to natural disasters (SIDS and LDCs); urges the international community and the developed countries to step up their funding;

| 15. | Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the European Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the institutions of the Cariforum, the African Union and of the European Union, the President and Government of Haiti, the UN Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief. |
| --- | --- |

15.

Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the European Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the institutions of the Cariforum, the African Union and of the European Union, the President and Government of Haiti, the UN Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief.

DECLARATION (37)

on the parliamentary dimension of the Post-Cotonou ACP-EU relations

Declaration of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on the parliamentary dimension of the Post-Cotonou ACP-EU relations

(Adopted at the 32nd session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly)

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) calls for the future ACP-EU cooperation post 2020 to build on the acquis and bonds created during over forty years of partnership and to include a strong parliamentary dimension with the Joint Parliamentary Assembly at its centre, whilst adapting to future emerging challenges.

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly takes note of the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Joint Communication of 22 November 2016 on ‘A renewed partnership with the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific’ and notably its position that ‘it is too early to define the institutional set-up seen at this stage’. It regrets that the Communication does not attempt to provide any answers at all on the future institutional set-up and that it neither acknowledges nor even mentions the role of the JPA.

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly plays an important role, notably in:

| — | providing for a democratic and comprehensive ACP-EU parliamentary dialogue on issues of high-level importance and mutual concern, |
| --- | --- |

—

providing for a democratic and comprehensive ACP-EU parliamentary dialogue on issues of high-level importance and mutual concern,

| — | scrutinising the executive’s work as well as the most effective use of ACP-EU development cooperation spending, |
| --- | --- |

—

scrutinising the executive’s work as well as the most effective use of ACP-EU development cooperation spending,

| — | promoting democracy and human rights, thus making an important contribution to an ACP-EU partnership on an equal footing. |
| --- | --- |

—

promoting democracy and human rights, thus making an important contribution to an ACP-EU partnership on an equal footing.

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly stresses the importance of building a future ACP-EU partnership on the foundation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda so that it can contribute to addressing the common challenges of tomorrow. In that context, the Assembly calls on the JPA Bureau to develop a more strategic orientation of the Assembly’s work programme and for future JPA Committee reports to make a clear link to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in order to allow for continuous monitoring of each of these goals.

A strengthened JPA in a post-2020 ACP-EU partnership will have to take into account the increased importance of regional integration and regional structures, notably through the organisation of more frequent regional meetings to address specific regional issues and through strengthened dialogue with regional and sub-regional parliaments and structures.

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly emphasises that an enhanced parliamentary dimension of ACP-EU cooperation also requires stronger participation and involvement of national parliaments, as well as civil society and other stakeholders, at all relevant stages of ACP-EU policies and activities, from planning and programming to implementation, evaluation and monitoring.

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will examine how to improve JPA scrutiny of development programming and the follow-up to such scrutiny and calls on the Commission and ACP governments to promote the involvement of ACP national parliaments, local authorities and civil society actors in the pre- and post-scrutiny of development programming, and to supply all available information in a timely manner to ACP national parliaments in order to assist them in their exercise of democratic scrutiny.

Nairobi, Kenya, 21 December 2016

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(1)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 December 2016 in Nairobi (Kenya).

1

(2)  OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.

2

(3)  OJ L 287, 4.11.2010, p. 3.

3

(4)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0265.

4

(5)  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0251.

5

(6)  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0163.

6

(7)  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0394.

7

(8)  COM(2015)0136.

8

(9)  COM(2015)0044.

9

(10)  COM(2010)0163.

10

(1)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 December 2016 in Nairobi (Kenya)

1

(2)  OJ L 287, 4.11.2010, p. 3.

2

(3)  OJ C 56 E, 26.2.2013, p. 75.

3

(4)  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0578.

4

(5)  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0250.

5

(6)  OJ C 316, 30.8.2016, p. 122.

6

(7)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0247.

7

(8)  COM(2010)0127.

8

(9)  http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/114357.pdf

9

(10)  http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/137318.pdf

10

(11)  SWD(2014)0234.

11

(12)  UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/70/1.

12

(13)  UN FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1.

13

(14)  http://www.nepad.org/system/files/caadp.pdf

14

(15)  Assembly/AU/Decl.7(II).

15

(16)  Where family is defined as ‘a means of organising agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production...’ (FAO, 2013 p. 2); http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-cn-nd/4.0/

16

(17)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0405.

17

(18)  Assembly/AU/Decl.449(XIX).

18

(19)  Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XXIII).

19

(20)  http://www.ifad.org/events/g8/statement.pdf

20

(21)  http://www.uneca.org/publications/framework-and-guidelines-landpolicy-africa

21

(22)  Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XIII) Rev.1.

22

(23)  http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/y7937e/y7937e00.htm

23

(24)  http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

24

(25)  http://www.achpr.org/instruments/achpr/

25

(26)  http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf

26

(27)  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/ForcedEvictions.aspx

27

(28)  https://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/2

28

(29)  http://www.oecd.org/corporate/mne/oecdguidelinesformultinationalenterprises.htm

29

(30)  http://www.oecd.org/development/effectiveness/busanpartnership.htm

30

(31)  http://www.fao.org/nr/tenure/voluntary-guidelines/en/

31

(32)  http://www.upov.int/upovlex/en/conventions/1991/content.html

32

(33)  http://www.planttreaty.org/

33

(34)  https://www.cbd.int/

34

(35)  http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/i3671e/i3671e.pdf

35

(36)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 December 2016 in Nairobi (Kenya).

36

(37)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 December 2016 in Nairobi (Kenya).

37

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