A4-0045/96

Resolution on the work of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly in 1995

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the resolutions adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly at its meetings in Dakar (January-February 1995) ((OJ C 245, 21.9.1995.)) and Brussels (September 1995) ((AP/1615-1617-1618, 28.9.1995.)),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0045/96),

A. whereas the democratic nature of the Joint Assembly gives it a leading role in developing and strengthening relations between the European Union and its ACP partners,

B. whereas Parliament attaches the greatest importance to its development policy, and in particular to strengthening ACP-EU cooperation and the advancement of human rights and human dignity throughout the world,

C. whereas 1995 marked an important stage in ACP-EU cooperation with the mid- term review of the Fourth Lomé Convention and the establishment of its new budget for the period 1995-2000,

1. Notes the improvement in the way in which the negotiations on the mid-term review of the Fourth Lomé Convention were conducted and in the agreement reached on establishing the 8th European Development Fund;

2. Points out that, by putting forward at the various stages of the negotiations constructive proposals to make the Convention more effective, the Joint Assembly made a significant contribution to the successful outcome of these negotiations;

3. Considers in particular that the ACP-EU Council of Ministers' decision to authorize a delegation from the Joint Assembly to attend the ministerial negotiating sessions as observers constitutes due recognition of its crucial role in the dialogue between the two sides and in strengthening ACP-EU cooperation;

4. Expresses its deep concern that the total allocation to the 8th EDF is not enough to achieve the objectives of ACP-EU cooperation; points out in particular that the amount fails to meet any of the objective criteria that the Assembly had suggested should be taken into account in setting the level of funding;

5. Welcomes the unstinting efforts made by the Joint Assembly to help promote human rights and democracy and to play a constructive role in the serious conflicts affecting a number of ACP countries;

6. Considers in this context that sending Joint Assembly delegations on fact- finding missions - such as the three in 1995 to Burundi, Zaire, Rwanda, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Mali - has proved to be an effective means of defusing conflict situations and making cooperation more effective for the people concerned.

7. Reiterates its condemnation of the current political situation in Nigeria; regrets that the Joint Assembly was unable to adopt a position on this matter at its meeting in Brussels;

8. Considers that sending a Joint Assembly delegation to Nigeria could make a significant contribution towards finding ways and means of improving the situation and therefore calls for a delegation to be authorized to visit Nigeria without delay;

9. Welcomes the participation as observers of a South African parliamentary delegation in the Assembly and points out in this context the significant role that the Joint Assembly continues to play in shaping future relations between South Africa, the ACP partners and the EU; points out that the Joint Assembly has come out clearly in favour of South Africa's accession to the Lomé Convention;

10. Notes with interest the important resolution on infrastructure in the ACP countries adopted by the Assembly within the framework of its general report;

11. Points out that basic infrastructure is a prerequisite for the economic and social development of the ACP countries, that a regional approach to the planning and construction of infrastructure is required, that it is important to ensure that infrastructure does not damage the environment and is adapted to the needs and know-how of its users, and that it is vital to make arrangements for the sustainable maintenance of existing infrastructure;

12. Points out that in the event of disasters in the ACP countries it is essential to implement, alongside vital humanitarian and emergency action, aid for reconstruction, including specific measures to rebuild infrastructure;

13. Welcomes the growing recognition of the urgent need to develop AIDS projects, given the spread of this epidemic and its established link with poverty, and points to the need to promote a general policy of health education, and hence prevention;

14. Reiterates its urgent call on the European Union to ban the manufacture, sale and storage of anti-personnel landmines on its territory and to destroy existing stocks, and supports the request for the creation of a specific fund to further finance mine clearing and the rehabilitation and compensation of victims; also calls for the speedy creation of a specific fund in the European Union's budget to finance programmes carried out by NGOs - which have hitherto been covered by different budgetary headings - in all countries that have suffered from the use of mines;

15. Hopes that in future the Joint Assembly will look more closely at the problems linked to the production and use of drugs in some ACP countries;

16. Hopes that in response to the political risks and crises in certain ACP states the European partners will not systematically express their disapproval by freezing Community aid, as to do so would risk causing greater problems for the populations concerned;

17. Notes the major debates and conclusions of the Joint Assembly on the results - and the implementation within the framework of ACP-EU cooperation - of the major international conferences such as the Cairo Conference on Population and Development, the World Conference on Women in Beijing and the World Social Development Summit in Copenhagen;

18. Looks forward with interest to the conclusions of the Assembly's three working groups on industrialization, refugees and displaced persons and urban development respectively; points out that the Joint Assembly can make a major contribution in these three crucial sectors of ACP-EU cooperation;

19. Stresses the importance of the setting up of a committee to monitor ACP-EU fisheries agreements and welcomes the interest shown by the Joint Assembly in the evaluation of these policies;

20. Points to the significant increase in the number of questions put to the Council and Commission during the last two sessions and, consequently, the considerable amount of time devoted to this type of exercise and the large number of resolutions tabled, debated and adopted by the Joint Assembly;

21. Takes the view that this situation must prompt the Joint Assembly to give detailed consideration to its working methods and to the impact of the message it wants to put across to the other institutions and to the general public in the ACP States and the EU;

22. Considers that, if it is to be more effective, the Joint Assembly must focus its activities more clearly on the basis of agreed priorities, without undermining the freedom of members of the Joint Assembly to raise issues they regard as important;

23. Notes with satisfaction the high level of parliamentary representation in ACP delegations, which reinforces the democratic nature of the institution, its authority and its legitimacy, and is a reflection of the ACP States' growing commitment to democracy;

24. Reiterates its call for recognition of the institutional autonomy of the Joint Assembly and, consequently, its financial autonomy by conferring responsibility for its management on the governing bodies established by its Rules of Procedure, within the framework of the EU budget; considers that such autonomy would enable it to carry out its functions in a responsible and more efficient manner;

25. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, the ACP Committee of Ambassadors and the European Commission.