Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Partnership Agreement concluded between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part — Minutes of the sitting of Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Date: 2015-12-08
Institutions: ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Subjects: ACP countries, ACP-EU relationship, EU migration policy, climate change, human rights, illegal migration, international cooperation, settlement of disputes, terrorism








C_2016179EN.01000501.xml










18.5.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 179/5





JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE OTHER PART
MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2015
(2016/C 179/02)
Contents







1.

Statement by Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development
5










2.

Debate with Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development — catch-the-eye
6










3.

Question Time to the Commission
6










4.

Action taken by the Commission on the resolutions adopted at the 29th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly
6










5.

Evaluation of the African Peace Facility after ten years: effectiveness and prospects for the future
7










6.

Report of the economic and social partners
7










7.

Statement by Mamphono Khaketla, Minister of Finance (Lesotho) and President-in-Office of the ACP Council
7










8.

Statement by Romain Schneider, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs (Luxembourg) and President-in-Office of the EU Council
8










9.

Question Time to the Council
8










10.

Debate with the Council — catch-the-eye
9










11.

Urgent topic No 1: Migration, human rights and humanitarian refugees
9




MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2015


(The sitting opened at 9.00.)

IN THE CHAIR: Fitz A. JACKSON

Co-President

1.   Statement by Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development

Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, focused his statement on the future of the Cotonou Agreement, which will expire in 2020. He explained that a Joint Consultation had been launched by the European Commission and the European External Action Service in order to gather suggestions for the future, based on a critical review of the first 15 years of the Agreement, its objectives and its results, and that a formal evaluation would be launched in the first half of 2016 and the different policy options of the future partnership analysed through an impact assessment process. Commissioner Mimica also stressed the need to fully take into account Agenda 2030 and the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals, which would give rise to the adaptation of EU development policy. Commissioner Mimica addressed climate change issues and reiterated that the outcome of the COP 21 Conference in Paris would be crucial, notably for many ACP states affected by adverse weather conditions.
2.   Debate with Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development — catch-the-eye

Speakers: Norbert Neuser, Davor Ivo Stier, João Ferreira, Maria Heubuch, Kennedy K. Hamudulu (Zambia), Purmanund Jhugroo (Mauritius), Lidia Senra Rodríguez, Enrique Guerrero Salom, Adjedoue Weidou (Chad) and Ana Rita Gerenias Sithole (Mozambique).
The exchange of views focused on the future of the ACP-EU Partnership, the review process, the link between migration and development, climate change and the need to integrate the new Sustainable Development Goals into the future framework. Members also raised questions relating to Eritrea, peace and development, humanitarian assistance and the link between relief, rehabilitation and development, the state of play of the Economic Partnership Agreement in the Pacific, and malnutrition, agriculture and food security.
Commissioner Mimica answered the questions raised by Members under the catchtheeye procedure.
3.   Question Time to the Commission

A total of 37 questions were put to the European Commission.
The Commission had previously responded to the questions in writing. Commissioner Mimica gave oral replies to the supplementary questions related to the following original questions:






 


Question 1 by Catherine Bearder on ACP states and asylum










 


Question 5 by Bodil Valero and Judith Sargentini on the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa










 


Question 6 by Kashetu Kyenge on the implementation of the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration in Africa










 


Question 7 by Nathalie Griesbeck on the special fund for Africa










 


Question 9 by Kennedy Hamudulu (Zambia) on illicit financial flows










 


Question 10 by Lidia Senra Rodríguez on combating tax evasion










 


Question 16 by Sabine Lösing (replaced by João Ferreira) on the further negotiation between Cuba, the EU and the US










 


Question 17 by Netty Baldeh (Gambia) on political dialogue










 


Question 19 by Sanjit Patel (Fiji) (replaced by Ashneel Sudhakar (Fiji)) on Fiji — Accompanying Measures Support for Sugar Protocol countries










 


Question 27 by Desmond Long (Saint Lucia) (replaced by Carl Greenidge (Guyana)) on Small Island Developing States resilience building










 


Question 28 by Michèle Rivasi on electrification of rural Africa as a means of combating poverty and climate change










 


Question 32 by João Ferreira on universal health coverage










 


Question 33 by Marlene Mizzi on EU assistance to people with disabilities in the Central African Republic










 


Question 36 by Worlea-Saywah Dunah (Liberia) (replaced by Netty Baldeh (Gambia)) on implementation of EU funds by international NGOs.




The authors of questions 4, 21, 29 and 30 had no supplementary questions.
The authors of questions 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 34, 35 and 37 were not present.
4.   Action taken by the Commission on the resolutions adopted at the 29th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

A document concerning the action taken by the Commission and the European External Action Service on the resolutions adopted by the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Suva (Fiji) had been forwarded to the Assembly.
5.   Evaluation of the African Peace Facility after ten years: effectiveness and prospects for the future

Committee on Political Affairs
Co-rapporteurs: Kombo Gberi (Cameroun) and Mariya Gabriel
Joseph Hyacinthe Owona Kono (Cameroun) (replacing Kombo Gberi (Cameroun)) and Mariya Gabriel outlined the report.
Speakers: Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Elmi Obsieh Wais (Djibouti), João Ferreira, Daniel K. Shumba (Zimbabwe), Bodil Valero, Teshome Toga (Ethiopia), Isabella Adinolfi, Kashetu Kyenge, James Kembi Gitura (Kenya), Joachim Zeller, Tadeusz Zwiefka, Eleni Theocharous, Michael Gahler, Kristin de Peyron (EEAS) and Françoise Moreau (European Commission).
Members praised the African Peace Facility (APF) for its achievements. It has supported the capacity of the African Union to deal with conflicts in Africa and has proved to be a game-changer in a wider partnership. Some Members called for a broadening of its scope and insisted on the need to ensure the involvement of the countries targeted. Members also insisted on the need to better balance the funding of the Peace Support Operations and the activities aimed at improving the capacities of the structures of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) — in particular in the field of conflict prevention and mediation. Several Members referred to the nexus between security and development and called for better coordination and complementarity between the APF and other EU instruments.
Joseph Hyacinthe Owona Kono (Cameroun) and Mariya Gabriel wound up the debate.
6.   Report of the economic and social partners

Presentation by Yves Somville, Chair of the ACP Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee
Yves Somville, Chair of the ACP Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee, gave a presentation on different aspects affecting the overall ACP-EU Partnership, including migration and the role of civil society.
(The sitting adjourned at 12.44 and resumed at 15.00)







Fitz A. JACKSON
Louis MICHEL


Patrick I. GOMES and
Luis Marco AGUIRIANO NALDA





Co-Presidents




Co-Secretaries-General





IN THE CHAIR: Louis MICHEL

Co-President

7.   Statement by Mamphono Khaketla, Minister of Finance (Lesotho) and President-in-Office of the ACP Council

Mamphono Khaketla, Minister of Finance (Lesotho) and President-in-Office of the ACP Council, recognised the role of the Assembly as the democratic political forum for ACP-EU relations. The Minister thanked the European Parliament for hosting the session. She also expressed her sympathy and sent her condolences to the governments and people of France, Mali, Nigeria and Chad on the recent terrorist attacks perpetrated by religious extremists. She expressed her confidence that the long-standing partnership would continue after the expiry of the Cotonou Agreement. Minister Khaketla stressed the importance of trade relations and of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiated between the EU and ACP countries, but expressed some concern about certain unilateral decisions taken in the context of the partnership. She concluded by highlighting two essential topics that needed to be addressed by ACP and EU countries in a spirit of collegiality: the impact of climate change and the management of migratory flows.
8.   Statement by Romain Schneider, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs (Luxembourg) and President-in-Office of the EU Council

Romain Schneider, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs (Luxembourg) and President-in-Office of the EU Council, referred to the recent terrorist attacks in France, Mali and Chad and offered his condolences. The Minister outlined a number of central challenges which the ACP-EU Partnership was currently facing and needed to address, including the migratory and refugee crisis to which European and African states sought to respond at the recent Valletta Summit. Combating terrorism was also emerging as another important challenge for European and ACP states. Achieving durable security and stability required promoting post-conflict reconciliation and building democratic and accountable institutions. A final challenge for the ACP and EU states would be the negotiation of a successor to the Cotonou Agreement.
9.   Question Time to the Council

A total of 35 questions were put to the Council.
Mamphono Khaketla replied on behalf of the ACP Council to the following questions and supplementary questions:






 


Question 2 by Enrique Guerrero Salom (replaced by Kashetu Kyenge) on counterterrorism efforts in Africa










 


Question 6 by Catherine Bearder on biodiversity in Africa.




The following questions were answered but not followed by a supplementary question:






 


Question 9 by Neena Gill (replaced by Kashetu Kyenge) on addressing concerns regarding the functioning of the ICC










 


Question 10 by Marielle de Sarnez (replaced by Catherine Bearder) on allowing for development disparities between the prospective partners in the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA)










 


Question 11 by Davor Ivo Stier on increased migration flows — young and educated people leaving Africa










 


Question 12 by Kashetu Kyenge on research and development in Africa










 


Question 14 by Worlea-Saywah Dunah (Liberia) (replaced by Netty Baldeh (Gambia)) on relevance of European Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to economic leaps by poor countries










 


Question 15 by Joyce Laboso (Kenya) (replaced by Abdikadir Aden) on influence of ACP and EU countries in global governance.




The authors of questions 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 were not present.
Question 13 had been withdrawn.
Romain Schneider replied on behalf of the EU Council to the following questions and supplementary questions:






 


Question 29 by Enrique Guerrero Salom (replaced by Kashetu Kyenge) on counterterrorism efforts in Africa










 


Question 30 by Catherine Bearder on biodiversity in Africa










 


Question 33 by Sabine Lösing (replaced by Lidia Senra Rodríguez) on restructuring of national debt










 


Question 34 by Lidia Senra Rodríguez on binding instruments regulating transnational corporations.




The following questions were answered but not followed by a supplementary question:






 


Question 18 by Netty Baldeh (Gambia) on the human rights of migrants










 


Question 24 by Kashetu Kyenge on research and development in Africa










 


Question 26 by Marielle de Sarnez (replaced by Catherine Bearder) on allowing for development disparities between the prospective partners in the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA)










 


Question 27 by Worlea-Saywah Dunah (Liberia) (replaced by Netty Baldeh (Gambia)) on relevance of European Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to economic leaps by poor countries.




The authors of questions 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 31, 32 and 35 were not present.
Question 21 had been withdrawn.
10.   Debate with the Council — catch-the-eye

Speakers: Iriase Pally (Nigeria), Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Michael Gahler and Lidia Senra Rodríguez.
Members expressed gratitude for the international support and solidarity in the fight against Boko Haram, and asked about the action taken by the EU and the ACP Council in addressing the migration crisis, and the rules and regulations which could be applied to multinational corporations to promote corporate responsibility and, in particular, prevent land-grabbing.
11.   Urgent topic No 1: Migration, human rights and humanitarian refugees

Speakers: Domenico Rosa (European Commission), Attilio Pacifici (European External Action Service), Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Michael Gahler, Marlene Mizzi, Younoussa Tondy (Niger), Netty Baldeh (Gambia), Catherine Bearder, Magnus Kofi Amoatey (Ghana), Lidia Senra Rodríguez, Elmi Obsieh Wais (Djibouti), Bodil Valero, Musa Hussein Naib (Eritrea), Ahamada Soukouna (Mali), Norbert Neuser, Veikko Nekundi (Namibia), Eleni Theocharous, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Teshome Toga (Ethiopia), Anna Zaborska, Abdoulaye Toure (Côte d’Ivoire), Kashetu Kyenge, Abdikadir Aden (Kenya), Julie Ward, Joseph Hyacinthe Owona Kono (Cameroon) and Raphael Siluvangii Umba (Democratic Republic of Congo).
Members pointed out that the root causes of migration and the current refugee crisis had not been properly addressed in the past, and stressed that EU responses should not only address urgent issues but also help to reduce migratory pressures in the longer term. They mentioned armed conflict, the lack of economic perspectives for young people, governance failures and human rights abuses as some of the push factors for migration and forced displacement. They also remarked that migration was a natural phenomenon and that people had the right to move. Most Members agreed that migration should be managed by providing legal and organised pathways to Europe, while also avoiding too many talented people leaving their home countries instead of contributing to development. ACP Members stressed that the EU should not discriminate against African migrants compared with those from the Near and Middle East.

(The sitting closed at 17.35)



Fitz A. JACKSON
Louis MICHEL

Co-Presidents



Patrick I. GOMES and
Luis Marco AGUIRIANO NALDA

Co-Secretaries-General