A4-0123/94

Resolution on the work of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly in 1994

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the resolutions adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly at its meetings in Strasbourg (February 1994) ((OJ C 167, 20.6.1994.)) and Libreville (October 1994),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0123/94),

A. whereas the ACP-EU Joint Assembly has a unique role in providing constructive support for North-South cooperation through a democratic channel at a time when both the European Union and the ACP group of states are seeking ways and means to reinforce and consolidate their democratic institutions in order to better serve the interests of their peoples,

B. bearing in mind that, with the enlargement of the European Union to include Austria, Finland and Sweden, and with the enlargement of the ACP group of states to include Eritrea, the representatives of 85 countries of the world will be able to meet at regular intervals in order to enhance the level of solidarity which exists between them and further pursue international cooperation and development through the Lomé partnership,

C. whereas the efforts of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly in 1994 were aimed in particular at providing reasoned proposals which will promote sustainable development within ACP States in the context of the mid-term review of the Fourth ACP-EU Convention,

D. bearing in mind that the membership of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly was substantially modified in 1994 as a result of the European elections and that in the course of its meeting in Libreville elections were held within the Joint Assembly and a new bureau began its mandate,

E. considering that this renewal, linked with the reinforcement of the number of ACP parliamentarians present, has done much to contribute to the establishment of a more dynamic institution which continues to consider that human rights and the development of the human potential lie at the heart of development policy in general and ACP-EU relations in particular,

F. whereas there will be a need to reassess the functioning of the Joint Assembly in the light of the conclusions of the mid-term review in order that its powers may be further reinforced and its methods of work be made more transparent,

G. whereas, in addition, there is a need to develop further the activities of the Joint Assembly and its bureau in the field of human rights in order to take on board the many lessons learnt from current procedures which, though effective, have become outdated,

H. whereas there is a need to focus the activity of the Joint Assembly more clearly on the basis of agreed priorities without undermining the freedom of members of the Joint Assembly to raise issues they consider necessary,

I. bearing in mind the significant role played by other institutions in the work of the Joint Assembly, notably the Commission, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the Economic and Social Committee of the EU and the OAU,

1. Warmly welcomes the participation of a South African parliamentary delegation in the work of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly and the decision of the Joint Assembly to grant South Africa observer status, pending the outcome of current discussions on possible membership of the Lomé Convention;

2. Considers that the elections in South Africa in April 1994 were an historic political development and that the Republic of South Africa, having become truly democratic, has a vocation to cooperate with its partners in the southern African region in their mutual interest and that this will have a significant and positive impact both on the southern African region and on the Lomé partnership;

3. Continues to fully support the twice-yearly meetings of the Joint Assembly; recognizes the efforts which are made to organize such meetings in the most efficient way possible in order to avoid any costs which may be considered to be excessive given the responsibilities of the Joint Assembly in relation to the citizens of Europe and developing countries;

4. Considers that within the context of clear guidelines which are to be negotiated between the Presidency of the Joint Assembly and the responsible organs of the European Parliament, greater budgetary autonomy should be granted to the Joint Assembly to enable it to carry out its functions in a responsible and efficient manner, bearing in mind previous decisions of the European Parliament's Bureau in relation to travel and organisational costs; calls upon the Bureau of the Joint Assembly to make proposals in this respect;

5. Welcomes the proposals of the Joint Assembly in relation to the mid-term review of the ACP-EU Convention and in particular those which refer to positive measures in support of democratization, the social effects of structural adjustment programmes and debt reduction schemes, the need to establish measures which would enable ACP countries to benefit from, and not be threatened by, the conclusions of the Uruguay Round, and the need to ensure coherence between the development policy of the European Union and other European policies, notably the agricultural and fisheries policies;

6. Fully supports the call made by the Joint Assembly for the budgetization of the next EDF and calls upon the negotiators at the mid-term review to recognise the additional development needs of the ACP States, particularly the least developed amongst them, as described in the reports of the Joint Assembly;

7. Considers that the resolution adopted by the Joint Assembly on the need to ensure sustainable development was particularly important, especially the emphasis it placed on human resource development, education and training, and urges the ACP-EU Council to recognize the increased significance that such measures must have in the future; recalls in this context the important recommendations contained in the General Report submitted by Senator Paula Sotutu;

8. Reiterates its commitment to encouraging and promoting increased private investment in ACP countries as the creation of new economic structures will contribute to the fight to alleviate poverty and create work; calls upon the European Union and the EIB to increase the amount of risk capital available and to provide additional technical assistance to those ACP States which so request, so that they can adapt their economic structures to the new demands made upon them;

9. Welcomes the attention given by the Joint Assembly to the need to prevent the outbreak of further internal conflict situations and considers that much more political effort must be exercised by all ACP-EU institutions in this respect; fully supports the decision of the European Parliament's Bureau to authorize a mission by the co-president and the first vice-president of the Joint Assembly to Burundi;

10. Notes with interest the resolutions adopted by the Joint Assembly on the implementation of development policy in the Central African region and highlights the attention which must be paid to the establishment of measures to prevent and combat AIDS; underlines its support for such programmes both in ACP States and within the European Union itself;

11. Notes the continued significance of environmental issues in the discussions of the Joint Assembly and its organs and working groups;

12. Looks forward with interest to the results of the deliberation on the subject of infrastructure in the ACP States and the recommendations that are to be made in the next General Report of the Joint Assembly;

13. Notes the Joint Assembly's decision to establish a new working group on the consequences of urbanization on ACP countries and considers this issue to be of considerable political and social significance; considers furthermore that the current work being undertaken by the working group on refugees and displaced persons should also lead to significant policy developments for the European Union and the ACP States;

14. Notes furthermore the resolution adopted on the situation in Rwanda which recognizes the efforts of the European Union in the provision of humanitarian aid but which also urges the European Union to do more politically and diplomatically to allow rehabilitation and development to get under way within Rwanda, notably by the provision of international observers as a confidence building measure, and by the supply of urgent technical assistance to allow the government and regional authorities to become operational;

15. Regrets nevertheless the delays which have occurred in the implementation of this policy due to the lack of consensus within the Council; urges the Council to resolve this matter with the utmost speed in order that the people of Rwanda may feel confident about the intentions of the international community and in order that the refugees and displaced persons may be encouraged to return;

16. Notes also the resolutions adopted on the situation in Sudan, about which the European Parliament continues to express its concern, and on Togo, Somalia, Haiti, Angola and Mozambique;

17. Fully supports the Joint Assembly in its efforts to promote positive measures which should sustain the democratic advances made in a number of ACP countries including Malawi and Mozambique in particular, and urges the Commission to recognize the needs of newly democratized countries when committing new resources for development purposes;

18. 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 Commission.