MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 20 JUNE 2018

(2018/C 443/04)

CONTENTS

1. Summary report from the workshop 9

2. Report of the economic and social partners 9

3. Report on the Youth Conference 10

4. Statement by Carl B. Greenidge, Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana 10

5. Statement by Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria), President-in-Office of the EU Council 10

6. Question Time to the Council 10

7. Debate with the Council — ‘catch the eye’ 11

8. Report on the 15th regional meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya (East African Region) from 11-13 April 2018 — report by the Co-Presidents 11

9. Approval of the minutes of the afternoon sitting of Monday, 18 June 2018 and the morning and afternoon sittings of Tuesday, 19 June 2018 11

10. Vote on the motions for resolution included in the reports submitted by the three standing committees 12

11. Vote on the urgent motions for resolution 13

12. Any other business 13

13. Date and place of the 36th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly 13

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

ANNEX II RECORD OF ATTENDANCE AT THE SESSION HELD IN BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) FROM 18-20 JUNE 2018 18

MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 20 JUNE 2018 A.M.

(The sitting opened at 9.08)

IN THE CHAIR: Joseph OWONA KONO

Acting Co-President

1. Summary report from the workshop

Clifford Andre (Seychelles) gave a summary of the workshop on ‘Biotechnological research for sustainable agriculture with a focus on developing countries’. On Sunday 17 June, participants had visited the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Ghent (Belgium), which focuses on basic research into the molecular foundations of life but which is doing specific biotechnological research with a focus on developing countries. Participants heard three presentations and were given a guided visit of the laboratories.

Speakers: Catherine Bearder, Halifa Sallah (Gambia).

2. Report of the economic and social partners

Presentation by Brenda King, member of the ACP Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Brenda King, member of the ACP Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee (replacing Mr Jaroslaw Mulewicz, President of the EU-ACP Follow-up Committee), gave an overview of the EESC’s recent activities since their participation in the last meeting of the JPA and on the future activities of the Follow-up Committee.

Speakers: Michel Kamano (Guinee), Halifa Sallah (Gambia), Agnima Alain-Michel Lobognon (Côte d'Ivoire).

3. Report on the Youth Conference

With the agreement of the Co-Presidents, a young representative chosen from the participants in the Youth Conference was given the floor to present the conclusions of the Conference, which centred on the need to encourage and support intercultural dialogue and integration in all its forms. In the subsequent debate, there was much enthusiasm for the role to be played by young people, and several proposals put forward about the involvement of youth in the Assembly's work. Louis Michel, suggested the creation of an ‘Assembly of ACP and EU Youth’ to be organised together with each session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly. In a similar way, other Members suggested the creation of youth fora both to provide and receive input from the JPA, taking inspiration from already existing models.

Speakers: Nafie Ali Nafie Ahmed (Sudan), Halifa Sallah (Gambia), Cheryl Sandra V. Husbands (Barbados), Louis Michel, Ben Abdallah Banda (Ghana), Sir Louis Straker (St. Vincent & The Grenadines), Mathew Sahr Nyuma (Sierra Leone), Dexter Nduna (Zimbabwe), Nafie Ali Nafie Ahmed (Sudan), Margaret Kamar (Kenya), Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda), Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Heather Mwiza Sibungo (Namibia), Waven William (Seychelles), Liuga Faumuina (Samoa), Agnima Alain-Michel Lobognon (Côte d'Ivoire), Michèle Rivasi.

4. Statement by Carl B. Greenidge, Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana

Carl B. Greenidge, Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, (on behalf of the President-in-Office of the ACP Council of Ministers), described the importance of the ACP-EU JPA forum for the dialogue on development, underlining the fact that it was the only structured forum of its kind covering four global geographical spaces in the world. The 79 ACP and 28 Member States have the potential to play a decisive role in shaping global governance and decision-making in international fora.

He pointed to the need to ensure a new framework for cooperation, one which was more effective, strategic, balanced and results-driven in the future partnership beyond 2020. Furthermore, he announced the results of the 107th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers, held in Lomé, Togo on 30 May 2018 where the ACP Group adopted its negotiating mandate for a Post-Cotonou Partnership Agreement, a mandate considered to be a strong manifestation of the unity and solidarity of the Governments and Peoples of the ACP States.

He concluded by expressing appreciation for the strong support shown by the Assembly for the preservation of the unity of the ACP Group, emphasising the importance of the ACP and the EU negotiating as single and equal entities.

5. Statement by Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria), President-in-Office of the EU Council

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria), President-in-Office of the EU Council, described the key priorities of the Presidency of Bulgaria, pointing to, in particular, the future of ACP-EU relations after the end of the Cotonou Agreement in 2020. She underlined the importance of taking advantage of the momentum for the ACP and the EU to join forces to drive forward a common, more global multilateral agenda. She welcomed the adoption by the ACP Group of its negotiating mandate and announced that the EU would adopt its own the following Monday.

While calling for increased dialogue and understanding between the ACP and the EU, she added that it was essential to further adapt ACP-EU relations to the new realities and to the global situation. In order to be more effective, she emphasised the necessity of deepening the ACP-EU partnership at regional level and to reflect on and integrate regional dynamics in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The future agreement should seek to advance common and inter-sectorial interests in different key areas.

She observed that climate action was an important area for cooperation and called for more ACP-EU coordinated actions and cooperation to fight and build up resilience against the recurrent man-made and natural disasters which undermine development of already fragile countries. Furthermore, she pointed out that it was crucial for the democratic partnership to have a parliamentary dimension in order to contribute to increased dialogue and understanding between peoples.

6. Question Time to the Council

2 questions were put to the ACP Council and 7 to the EU Council.

(i) Carl B. Greenidge replied on behalf of the ACP Council to the following written questions which were not followed by supplementary questions: Question 1 by Sabine Lösing on a Stronger Role for the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in the new partnership agreement and question. Question 2 by Nathalie Griesbeck (replaced by Thierry Cornillet) on Illegal fishing in the Caribbean

(ii) Ekaterina Zaharieva replied on behalf of the EU-Council to the following written questions and supplementary questions. Question 3 by Jo Leinen (replaced by Neena Gill at the beginning of the question) on the Situation in Gabon. Question 4 by Neena Gill on the Absence of Council position on violent repression by security forces in the DRC in December 2017 and January 2018. Question 5 by Nathalie Griesbeck (replaced by Thierry Cornillet) on Illegal fishing in the Caribbean. Question 6 by Catherine Bearder on Wildlife trafficking and ACP-EU relations. Question 7 by Thierry Cornillet on the Need to improve communication on EU funding and to provide training for local stakeholders in making applications for their projects. Question 8 by Laura Agea on Future EU programmes/policies and the SDGs. Question 9 by Sabine Lösing (replaced by Lidia Senra Rodriguez) on a Stronger role for the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in the new partnership agreement.

7. Debate with the Council — ‘catch the eye’

Speakers: Michèle Rivasi, Lucie Milebou Aubsson ép Mboussou (Gabon), Halifa Sallah (Gambia), Michel Kamano (Guinee), Jomo Mfanawemakhosi Dlamini (Kingdom of Eswatini).

Members focused on topics such as the EU budget and EDF traceability, the agricultural sector and large-scale production, policies in ACP countries regarding the use of pesticides and plastics; the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and regional integration, mining, the digital economy and added value chains, the future MFF, world trade conflicts and their effects on ACP economies.

Ekaterina Zaharieva replied on behalf of the EU-Council to questions 1, 3 and 4.

Carl B. Greenidge replied on behalf of the ACP Council to questions 2 and 3.

Speakers: Clifford Andre (Seychelles), Liuga Faumuina (Samoa), Spès-Caritas Njebarikanuye (Burundi), Ben Abdallah Banda (Ghana), Dexter Nduna (Zimbabwe), Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Louis Michel.

Members focused on topics such as parliamentarians’ role in the negotiating mandate, small island states and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, global warming, sea-levels, plastic waste and fish stocks in the Pacific, the lifting of EU sanctions on Burundi, technology transfer to ACP countries, and infrastructure development, ACP proposals to boost the economy and minimise migration, and the budgetisation of the EDF.

Carl B. Greenidge replied on behalf of the ACP Council to questions 1, 5 and 6.

Ekaterina Zaharieva replied on behalf of the EU-Council to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

8. Report on the 15th regional meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya (East African Region) from 11-13 April 2018 — report by the Co-Presidents

Acting Co-President Michèle Rivasi gave an oral report on the 15th Regional Meeting (East Africa Region), highlighting the main topics discussed and making special mention of the need to promote deeper regional integration that would strengthen partnerships with the private sector and civil society as well as to strengthen control mechanisms on trade to achieve sustainable socio-economic and political development. She pointed out that the only long-term solution to eliminating the causes of conflict was to enhance political dialogue as well as to strengthen cooperation and international assistance.

On the future ACP-EU Post-Cotonou Agreement, she highlighted the need to build on the Cotonou acquis and to integrate new global realities, in particular regional specificities; equally important was the need to keep civil society in the ACP States informed about how the negotiations were progressing.

9. Approval of the minutes of the afternoon sitting of Monday, 18 June 2018 and the morning and afternoon sittings of Tuesday, 19 June 2018

The minutes were approved.

(The sitting adjourned at 12.35 and resumed at 15.01)

IN THE CHAIR: Louis MICHEL

Co-President

10. 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.

(i) ACP-EU relations post-Cotonou: A strong parliamentary dimension (ACP-EU/102.400/18/fin.)

(Committee on Political Affairs)

Report by Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda) and Cristian Dan Preda

Amendments adopted: 1, 6, 7 and 1 oral amendment on recital I

Amendments rejected: 2, 3, 4, 5.

A vote by separate houses on amendment 2 was requested by the EPP group. The amendment was rejected.

A split vote by separate houses on amendment 3 was requested by EPP group. The amendment was rejected. A split vote by separate houses on Recital F was requested by S&D group. The first part was adopted.

A split vote on paragraph 6 and a vote by separate houses on the two parts was requested by the S&D Group. The first part was adopted.

A split vote on paragraph 11 and a vote by separate houses on the second part was requested by the EPP Group. The first part was adopted.

A split vote on paragraph 12 and a vote by separate houses on the second part was requested by the EPP Group. The first part was adopted.

A split vote on paragraph 16 and vote by separate houses on the second part was requested by the EPP Group. The first part was adopted.

A split vote on paragraph 20 and a vote by separate houses on the second part was requested by the EPP Group. The first part was adopted.

The resolution thus amended was adopted by 62 votes in favour, 0 against and 5 abstentions.

(ii) The impact of the illegal trade in phytosanitary products, seeds and other agricultural inputs on ACP countries’ economies (ACP-EU/102.403/18/fin.)

(Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade)

Report by Lucie Milebou Aubusson épouse Mboussou (Gabon) and Maria Arena

Amendments adopted: 2, 6, 7, 8,

Amendments rejected: 1, 4, 5,

Amendments fallen: 3

A split vote on recital O was requested by the EPP group. The recital was adopted.

A separate vote on paragraph 18 was requested by the EPP Group. The paragraph was adopted.

The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously.

(iii) The social and environmental consequences of urbanisation, particularly the sound management of industrial and domestic waste in ACP countries (ACP-EU/102.408/18/fin.)

(Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment)

Report by Halifa Sallah (Gambia) and Eleni Theocharous

Amendment adopted: 2

Amendment rejected: 1

A split vote by separate houses on para 6 was requested by the EPP and ECR groups. The first part was adopted.

The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously.

11. Vote on the urgent motions for resolution

(i) The urgency of new measures to fight international terrorism (ACP-EU/102.582/18/fin.)

Amendments adopted: 1

The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously.

(ii) The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan (ACP-EU 102.583/18/fin.)

Amendments adopted: 1

The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously with three abstentions.

12. Any other business

The Co-President thanked Members, the co-secretariat, the interpreters and the Commission for their contributions.

13. Date and place of the 36th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The 36th Session of the Assembly will take place in Benin from 3 to 5 December 2018.

(The sitting closed at 15.32)