A4-0065/99

Resolution on the results of the work of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly in 1998

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the resolutions adopted by the Joint Assembly at its 26th and 27th sessions in Port Louis (April 1998) ((OJ C 274, 2.9.1998, pp. 19-61.)) and Brussels (September 1998) ((Minutes of the 27th session of the Joint Assembly . )),

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0065/99),

A. whereas the European Parliament should be regularly informed of the activity of the Joint Assembly in order to facilitate coordination and ensure consistency in development policy,

B. whereas the negotiations for a new cooperation agreement with the ACP countries have now begun; whereas there is a common accord to continue, reinforce and adapt ACP-EU cooperation in order to meet the challenges of the next century; whereas a deepening of the political dimension of cooperation is one of the issues under consideration,

C. whereas the Joint Assembly and the European Parliament, in view of the democratic legitimacy of the two institutions, have an important role to play in shaping the future direction of development policy and the nature of the new ACP-EU agreement,

D. whereas Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance, Pluralism and the Rule of Law are an integral part of the Union's development policy,

1. Stresses that the Joint Assembly is a vital component of ACP-EU relations representing the peoples of ACP and EU countries; considers it instrumental in developing the full potential of ACP-EU cooperation and in responding to the democratic challenge of how to best incorporate a deepened political dimension into the new agreement;

2. Stresses the importance of the Joint Assembly putting forward proposals over the course of ACP-EU negotiations; recalls the significance of its own contributions, expressed through its resolutions of 2 October 1997 on the Commission's Green Paper on relations between the European Union and the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st century - challenges and options for a new partnership (COM(96)0570 - C4-0639/96) ((OJ C 325, 27.10.1997, p. 28.)) and of 1 April 1998 on the communication from the Commission on the guidelines for the negotiation of new cooperation agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries (COM(97)0537 - C4-0581/97) ((OJ C 138, 4.5.1998, p. 108.)), in this process;

3. Accordingly, calls for the role of the Joint Assembly to be strengthened and for its working methods to be optimised to take account of the emerging new nature of ACP-EU cooperation, including the possibility of holding regional meetings of the Assembly;

4. Welcomes the fact that a Joint Assembly delegation consisting of: Lord Plumb, Co-President, Mrs Kinnock, Vice-President and rapporteur on future ACP-EU relations, and Mr Rocard, member of the Joint Assembly and chairman of Parliament's Committee on Development and Cooperation, attended the opening of negotiations for a new ACP-EU agreement at the invitation of the Presidency of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers; confirms that this is due recognition of the Joint Assembly's important role in this process;

5. Welcomes the fact that elected ACP Representatives now make up 75-85 % of the ACP total; recalls that in the 1980s the Joint Assembly was composed of almost equal numbers of parliamentary and diplomatic ACP Representatives;

6. Considers that participation by NGO observers from Europe and the ACP countries in the work of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly helps to enrich the debates and reinforce links with civil society;

7. Underlines the interrelationship between Human Rights, Democracy, Good Governance, Pluralism, the Rule of Law and the attainment of development objectives; points out that transparency and accountability are vital ingredients of an effective cooperation policy;

8. Is worried at the way in which some constitutions are being changed in some ACP countries which could rule out pluralism and put a question mark over democracy; believes that this issue could be examined by the Joint Assembly;

9. Is also worried at the way in which elections have been conducted in some ACP countries by those who wish to gain or maintain unilateral control;

10. Warmly welcomes South Africa as a qualified member of the Joint Assembly;

11. Regrets that the negotiations with South Africa for a Trade, Cooperation and Development Agreement are still not finalised after nearly four years of talks; recalls the Cardiff European Council's statement that an agreement should have been reached by autumn 1998 at the latest; welcomes the progress recently made by the negotiators to tentatively conclude an agreement;

12. Warmly welcomes the granting of observer status to Cuba in the Joint Assembly;

13. Notes with interest the resolution on intra-ACP cooperation adopted within the framework of the Joint Assembly's General Report;

14. Sees the past and current Working Groups of the Joint Assembly as important instruments for addressing both current and long-term problems and devising comprehensive, realistic solutions which can influence practical actions for the good;

15. Confirms its support for the important work carried out by the Joint Assembly's co-rapporteurs on human rights; asks all ACP and EU States to give their full cooperation;

16. Fully shares the Joint Assembly's position on the Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of Congo; takes note of the comprehensive resolutions passed;

17. Notes the Joint Assembly's support for a twin-track strategy towards Nigeria, welcoming progress but, at the same time, maintaining pressure and sanctions until human rights violations have ceased and there is real prospect for the establishment of a democratic constitution and a legitimate civilian government; shares this approach and points out the encouraging progress made at the recently held local elections;

18. Expresses its profound sadness over the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia; supports the Joint Assembly's efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution and its call on both countries to accept dialogue, mediation, and to renounce violence, as the only way forward;

19. Fully supports the Joint Assembly's condemnation of repeated human rights violations in Sudan and of its destabilising role in the region; calls for full commitment to the negotiating initiative under the authority of IGAD;

20. Is deeply concerned at various other internal conflicts and human rights violations in some ACP regions; welcomes the position taken by Joint Assembly in these matters; regrets, however, that the Assembly, in some cases, has failed to adopt a unified stance;

21. Affirms the need for increased regional cooperation, particularly in order to improve infrastructure, to strengthen regional markets and to develop efficient economic areas, while removing hurdles such as obstacles to transportation and customs barriers which create disadvantage;

22. Welcomes the results of the Joint Assembly's missions to Bougainville and Kenya; points to the great importance of such missions as they provide up-to-date information as to the situation on the ground and can make a significant contribution to defusing sensitive situations in the areas concerned;

23. Reaffirms its view that possible means of crisis prevention should be used and developed in order to prevent escalation and make peaceful conflict resolution possible, and welcomes in this connection the resolutions adopted by the Joint Assembly;

24. Considers it necessary to take part in all election observation initiatives undertaken by the European Commission and to accept invitations by ACP countries to participate in presidential and parliamentary elections, providing the security situation permits, since only continuous monitoring of the democratisation processes will make possible a realistic assessment and a successful outcome;

25. Welcomes the initiative by the co-rapporteurs on the rules of procedure to further enhance working methods, including the proposal to revitalise Question Time with the Commission and Council;

26. Will give due heed to the positions of the Joint Assembly when deciding on foreign and development policy issues as well as when deciding on matters, such as trade, which are fundamentally linked to, and need to be coherent with, development policy; calls on the EU Member States, the Council and the Commission to do the same;

27. Welcomes the fact that increasing heed is being paid to strengthening the private sector in the ACP countries and to targeted support for small and medium-sized businesses in strategies for sustainable development and that encouragement for industrial development tailored to local needs and resources is an important objective of development strategy;

28. Is pleased that decentralised cooperation, involvement of civil society and cooperation with local non-governmental organisations are increasingly valued in the ACP countries and, in particular, that a reinforcement of women's rights is acknowledged to be an important precondition for sustainable development;

29. Stresses the great importance of freedom of information, the press and opinion, as well as freedom of political opposition, including fair access to the mass media for competing political groups, for a repression-free society;

30. Welcomes the fact that the Joint Assembly is increasingly developing into an open forum for discussion of questions relating to basic human needs such as access to elementary education, clean water supplies and basic health services, as well as environmental and social issues, with increasing attention being paid in development cooperation to gender-specific aspects;

31. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the the Council, the Commission, the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers and the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States.