Joint Assembly of the Convention concluded between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) - Resolutions adopted on the creation and budgetary funding of the Secretariat for the chambers of commerce of the ACP countries in the Canary Islands, Spain (ACP-EU/2082/97/fin.)

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Brussels from 17 to 20 March 1997,

- having regard to the Treaty of Maastricht, and especially Title XVII thereof,

- having regard to the Fourth ACP-EU Lomé Convention revised by the protocol of Mauritius of 4 November 1995, and particularly Articles 6, 15(a), 110, 111, 136 and 220(p),

- having regard to the resolution of the extraordinary session of the ACP Council of Ministers (1), held in Montego Bay (Jamaica) from 7 to 10 July 1980, on the creation of a Federation of ACP Chambers of Commerce,

- having regard to the resolution adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly on fair and responsible trade, (2),

- drawing attention to the provisions of the declaration and action programme of Suva (3),

A. having regard to the debate on future relations between the ACP and the European Union, launched by the Declaration of Mauritius on the holding of a Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government and, the presentation of the Green Paper and to subsequent developments,

B. having regard to the role that may be played by the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators, representing the private sector in those countries, and to the search for greater efficiency from the Community cooperation policy and by reinvigorating their economies,

C. whereas account should be taken of the private sector as a factor for economic revival and whereas it is expected to play an important role in creating the conditions needed to bring about peaceful transition and economic and social development, as well as in the development of trade and the training of human resources in the ACP States,

D. whereas the development of the ACP States must always be the prime objective of European Union policy,

E. whereas the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators, formally constituted at the meeting in the Canary Islands, Spain of 7 to 11 October 1996, will contribute to the growth of exchange of experience between the ACP States and will improve the efficiency of the market between the ACP countries and other regions of the world,

F. whereas the private sector needs to be boosted and to play a much more important part than it has hitherto in implementing the ACP-EU Convention of Lomé,

G. whereas the private sector is one of the motors of regional integration and whereas it should be involved in the work of the regional organizations,

H. whereas the ACP-EU Joint Assembly favours diversifying the partners engaged in its cooperation,

I. whereas the consequences of the GATT Uruguay Round will have an impact on the preferences of the ACP States and whereas the liberalization of world trade is bound to require the existence of a body organized by the private sector in the ACP States in order to face up to this challenge,

J. whereas in most of the ACP States there is a large informal sector of the economy which should gradually be integrated into the formal sector and whereas the private sector will contribute to this gradual process,

K. whereas in virtually all the ACP States economic development cannot be promoted unless there is an organized private sector enabling resources to be obtained to enable their economies to diversify,

L. whereas it should be regarded as a positive advance to be able to assess the results of the Convention in a calm atmosphere, with the aim of removing the obstacles to development and making the necessary corrections to secure a future relationship of benefit to both sides,

M. whereas there is a need for cooperation to be designed to create lasting endogenous development in the ACP States and a proper economic structure to generate wealth and employment,

1. Welcomes the recent constitution at the general meeting held in the remote region of the Canary Islands of the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators, with the hope that the Federation will be able to provide an impetus for the private sector in those countries and promote their integration into the world economy;

2. Draws attention to the important function which the Federation is called upon to perform in coordinating and exchanging experience and information between the various private sectors of the ACP States;

3. Points out that the absence of an appropriate organization for the private sector of the ACP States has proved a serious handicap to obtaining progress and more efficient results in the context of intra-ACP and ACP-EU trade cooperation;

4. Highlights the need to encourage consolidation in an organized private sector that is capable of becoming a useful partner for the implementation of regional and inter-regional cooperation programmes to assist and expand the production capacity of the ACP States;

5. Expressly underlines the need to involve the private sector to improve exploitation of the ACP-EU Convention of Lomé;

6. Urges the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators to work closely with the ACP Secretariat and vice-versa, with the CID, and with the Commission to promote as effectively as possible the objectives laid down in the fourth Lomé Convention;

7. Notes with interest that the seat of the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators has been established in the Canary Islands, a peripheral region of the European Union;

8. Appreciates the assistance provided by the Government of the Canaries and the facilities made available to the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators;

9. Calls on the Commission to provide maximum support for the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic operators, and for that support to take the form of a financial allocation to ensure that maximum priority is given to the commercial development of the ACP States and that at the same time it helps to pursue the objectives as defined;

10. Calls for the European Parliament to allocate funds to help improve the promotion of the Federation and its services to ACP and European economic operators;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the Commission, the CID, the Economic and Social Committee, and the ACP Federation of National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Other Economic Operators. (1) Resolution No 3 of the extraordinary session of the ACP Council of Ministers, held in Montego Bay (Jamaica) from 7 to 8 July 1980.

(2) Luxembourg, 26 September 1996 (ACP-EU 1823/96/fin.).

(3) ACP Council of Ministers, Suva (Fiji), 14 April 1977.