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 Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Date: 2017-06-21
Institutions: ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Subjects: ACP countries, ACP-EU relationship, Cotonou Agreement, culture, development aid, economic development, international cooperation, regional security




C_2017405EN.01001001.xml










29.11.2017   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 405/10





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 WEDNESDAY, 21 JUNE 2017
(2017/C 405/03)

CONTENTS








1.

Report on the 13th regional meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone (Western African Region) from 22 to 24 February 2017 — report by the Co-Presidents
11










2.

Statement by Abraham Tekeste, Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation (Ethiopia), President-in-Office of the ACP Council
11










3.

Statement by Carmelo Abela, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion (Malta), President-in-Office of the EU Council
11










4.

Question time to the Council
11










5.

Debate with the Council – catch the eye
12










6.

Culture as a driver of economic growth
12










7.

Summary reports from the workshops — catch the eye
12










8.

Approval of the minutes of the morning sitting of Tuesday 20 June 2017
13










9.

Vote on the motions for resolutions included in the reports submitted by the three standing committees
13










10.

Vote on the urgent motions for resolutions
14










11.

Vote on the draft declaration
14










12.

Any other business
14










13.

Approval of the minutes of the morning sitting of Tuesday, 20 June 2017
15










14.

Date and place of the 34th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly
15










ANNEX I

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
16










ANNEX II

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE AT THE SESSION HELD IN ST JULIAN’S (MALTA) FROM 19 TO 21 JUNE 2017
20










ANNEX III

TEXTS ADOPTED
23








Resolution on the financing of political parties in ACP and EU countries
23








Resolution on improving aid and development effectiveness in EU-ACP cooperation
27








Resolution on the role of sport as an enabler for education and poverty eradiction
32








Resolution on the security situation in Sahel-Saharan region
38








Declaration on climate change
43




MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 21 JUNE 2017


(The sitting opened at 9.45)

IN THE CHAIR: Memounatou IBRAHIMA

Acting Co-President

1.   Report on the 13th regional meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone (Western African Region) from 22 to 24 February 2017 – report by the Co-Presidents
Acting Co-President Cécile Kashetu Kyenge gave an oral report on the 13th regional meeting, highlighting the main topics discussed.
Speakers: Halifa Sallah (The Gambia), Alpha Ousmane (Burkina Faso), Ibrahim Rassin Bundu (Sierra Leone), Mario Saiegh (Guinea-Bissau) and Cécile Kashetu Kyenge
The debate focused, among other subjects, on progress made in the areas of good governance in the West African region, the ongoing security situation, and the need for investment in the economy to curb excessive migration. Members also discussed the poor level of participation of women in this regional meeting.
2.   Statement by Abraham Tekeste, Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation (Ethiopia), President-in-Office of the ACP Council
Abraham Tekeste, Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation (Ethiopia), President-in-Office of the ACP Council, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to work for the attainment of the goals of the ACP-EU partnership. ACP countries wished to build a post-2020 partnership underpinned by a legally binding agreement conducive to the economic transformation of ACP countries and based on industrialisation, respect for the environment, innovation and modernisation. He also stressed that an appropriate financial framework for development cooperation should be part of the future agreement.
3.   Statement by Carmelo Abela, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion (Malta), President-in-Office of the EU Council
Carmelo Abela, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta, warned about the current isolationist and nationalist tendencies undermining multilateral cooperation. He called for a global order based on the rule of law, human rights and democracy. He lauded the New European Consensus on Development, which puts the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of the EU’s development strategy. He informed members about the development of the European security and defence strategy and encouraged African endeavours to create a regional security policy. Carmelo Abela reminded the Assembly of the importance of implementing the Valletta partnership on migration, especially by promoting solidarity principles. On the basis of the Valletta Action Plan, the EU had created the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, which currently finances the implementation of 116 programmes to a total value of EUR 1 889 million.
Speakers: Halifa Sallah (The Gambia), Ana Rita Sithole (Mozambique), Worlea Saywah Dunnah (Liberia) and Ben Abdallah Banda (Ghana)
4.   Question time to the Council

5 questions were put to the ACP Council and 8 to the EU Council.
Abraham Tekeste replied on behalf of the ACP Council to the following question and supplementary question:






 


Question 4 by Lídia Senra Rodríguez on mining concession in the Bismarck Sea.




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






 


Question 2 by Cécile Kashetu Kyenge on the situation of Yemeni refugees in Djibouti.










 


Question 3 by Marielle de Sarnez (replaced by Nathalie Griesbeck) on the blue economy.










 


Question 5 by Nathalie Griesbeck on drought and famine in East Africa.




The author of question 1 was not present.
Carmelo Abela replied on behalf of the EU Council to the following questions and supplementary questions:






 


Question 9 by Clifford André (Seychelles) on maritime piracy.










 


Question 11 by Catherine Bearder on the EU Wildlife Action Plan.










 


Question 12 by Lídia Senra Rodríguez on mining concession in the Bismarck Sea.




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






 


Question 6 by Cécile Kashetu Kyenge on the situation of Yemeni refugees in Djibouti.










 


Question 8 by Nathalie Griesbeck on drought and famine in East Africa.










 


Question 10 by Marielle de Sarnez (replaced by Nathalie Griesbeck) on the blue economy.










 


Question 13 by Tesfaye Daba (Ethiopia) on paternalistic tendencies of some EP Members.




The author of question 7 was not present.
5.   Debate with the Council — catch the eye

Speakers: Mohamed Youssof Goumaneh (Djibouti), Halifa Sallah (The Gambia), Agnima Alain-Michel Lobognon (Côte d’Ivoire), Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Oum Kelthoum Soueid Ahmed (Mauritania) and Jacob Oulanyah (Uganda).
Members focused on topics such as migration and development cooperation, involvement of young people and women in decision-making, including women’s involvement in the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, as well as more specific issues such as fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire and the financing of the G5 interforces.
6.   Culture as a driver of economic growth

Debate with Carmelo Abela, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion (Malta)
Carmelo Abela, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta, noted that today in the early twenty-first century growth was increasingly dependent on alternative pillars, including culture. He gave a very positive overview of the Maltese experience in cultural development, cultural policy and the contribution of culture to the rest of the country’s economy. The four components of the cultural sector — heritage, art, design and interdisciplinary activities — had a higher gross added value than that of the construction sector. The minister also praised the smart specialisation policy applied in Malta as a booster of economic growth.
Speakers: Abdikadir Omar Aden (Kenya), Joachim Zeller, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Mohamed Youssof Goumaneh (Djibouti), Catherine Bearder, Krzysztof Hetman, Arne Gericke, Tadeusz Zwiefka and Louis-Joseph Manscour.
Members unanimously recognised the role and importance of culture as a support for economic activity, but also as a factor of identity and social cohesion. They highlighted the synergies that exist between the cultural sector and those of education or health, helping to make this sector a lever for the economy as a whole. Some Members spoke of the threat posed by a globalised culture. Others testified to the economic and social effectiveness of culture at the local level, especially in cities. They stressed the need for political will to make culture a policy priority and to allocate it necessary budgets.
Carmelo Abela wound up the debate.
7.   Summary reports from the workshops — catch the eye
Cécile Kashetu Kyenge (replacing Enrique Guerrero Salom) gave a summary report on the workshop on ‘Malta as a humanitarian hub’. In the framework of the workshop, Members visited the headquarters of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), an EU agency with the task of monitoring the smooth and efficient treatment of asylum requests by EU Member States and offering legal assistance and counselling to migrants. Members heard informative presentations on the situation of migrants and on their illegal trafficking across the Mediterranean Sea. They were also informed about the negotiations for the creation of a fully-fledged EU Agency for Asylum.
Phel Parkies (South Africa) gave an oral report on the workshop on ‘Malta as a hub for growth and success in knowledge investment’. Members visited the Malta Life Science Park. Created in 2004 and cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund to the sum of EUR 30 million for the current financial period, it offers an international platform for innovation and research and development in life sciences. Particularly important are the Malta Digital Hub project in the field of imaging software and the research in cell therapy and genomics.
Speakers: Halifa Sallah (The Gambia).
8.   Approval of the minutes of the morning sitting of Tuesday 20 June 2017

Speakers: Sebastian Kopulande (Zambia), Abadula Gemeda Dago (Ethiopia), Lídia Senra Rodríguez, Jomo Mfanawemakhosi Dlamini (Swaziland).
Members requested some modifications to the minutes distributed.

(The sitting adjourned at 12.55 and resumed at 14.00)

IN THE CHAIR: Louis MICHEL
9.   Vote on the motions for resolutions included in the reports submitted by the three standing committees

The Co-President reminded the Assembly of the voting procedures.






—


The financing of political parties in ACP and EU countries (ACP-EU/102.286/17/fin)




Committee on Political Affairs
Report by Worlea Saywah Dunnah (Liberia) and Cécile Kashetu Kyenge
Amendments adopted: 1, 4, 6, 9, 13 and 17 (first part)
Amendments rejected: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 (second part) and 18
A vote by separate houses on amendments 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 was requested by the EPP group.
A split vote on amendment 17 and a vote by separate houses on the second part of that amendment was requested by the EPP Group.
A split vote on Recital A and a vote by separate houses on the second part of that amendment was requested by the EPP Group. The first part was adopted.
A split vote on Recital B and a vote by separate houses on the second part of that amendment was requested by the EPP Group.
A split vote on Recital D and a vote by separate houses on the second part of that amendment was requested by the EPP Group. The first part was adopted.
A split vote on Recital K and a vote by separate houses on the second and third part of that amendment was requested by the EPP Group. The first part was adopted.
A split vote on Recital R and a vote by separate houses on the second part of that amendment was requested by the EPP Group and the S&D Group. The first part was adopted.
The resolution thus amended was adopted by 56 votes in favour and 1 abstention.






—


Improving aid and development effectiveness in EU-ACP cooperation (ACP-EU/102.276/17/fin)




Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade
Report by Sebastian C. Kopulande (Zambia) and Neoklis Sylikiotis
Amendments adopted: 1 and 3
Amendments rejected: 2 and 4
A vote by separate houses on paragraph 4 was requested by the EPP Group. The paragraph was rejected.
A vote by separate houses on amendment 3 was requested by the GUE/NGL Group.
A split vote and vote by separate houses on paragraph 16 was requested by the EPP Group. The first and the third part of paragraph 16 were adopted. The second part was rejected.
A vote by separate houses on Recital J was requested by the EPP Group. Recital J was rejected.
A vote by separate houses on Recital L was requested by the EPP Group. Recital L was rejected.
The resolution thus amended was adopted by 50 votes in favour and 5 votes against.






—


The role of sport as enabler for education and poverty eradication (ACP-EU/102.279/17/fin)




Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment
Report by Abderrahmane Marrakchy (Mauritania) and Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio
Amendments adopted: 2, 4 and 5
Amendments rejected: 1, 6 and 7
Amendment withdrawn: 3
The resolution thus amended was adopted unanimously.
10.   Vote on the urgent motions for resolutions







—


The security situation in the Sahel-Saharan Region AP/102.293/17/Comp




Amendments adopted: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and oral amendment number 1
Amendments rejected: 6, 7, 8 and 9
A vote by separate houses on amendments 6, 7 and 8 was requested by the EPP group.
The resolution thus amended was adopted by 65 votes in favour and 2 votes against.






—


The situation in Burundi (ACP-EU 102.294/17)




A compromise motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/ALE and EFDD Groups and a resolution tabled by the GUE/NGL Group were put to the vote.
On the compromise motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/ALE and EFDD Groups, a vote by secret ballot was requested. Also, a vote by separate houses on the final vote was requested.
The Co-President explained the voting procedures.
György Hölvénzi, David Martin, Gberi Kombo (Cameroon) and Ashneel Sudhakar (Fiji) were chosen by lot as tellers for the vote by secret ballot.
IN THE CHAIR: Cecile Kashetu KYENGE
The resolution was rejected.
On the resolution tabled by the GUE/NGL Group, a vote by separate houses on the final vote was requested. The resolution was rejected.
Fitz Jackson (Jamaica) pointed out that the withdrawal of the resolutions tabled by Burundi and South Africa should be considered as a statement by the ACP Group of States of their commitment to achieving, together with the EU, reconciliation in Burundi.
11.   Vote on the draft declaration

The declaration on climate change was adopted by acclamation.
12.   Any other business

Speakers: Abdikadir Omar Aden (Kenya), Acting Co-President Cecile Kashetu Kyenge, Phel Parkies (South Africa) and Halifa Sallah (The Gambia).
Speakers thanked the Assembly for having given Kenya the opportunity to host the 32nd Session in December 2016 in Nairobi. They regretted the incident between the Co-President and the representative of Burundi during the debate of the urgent motion for a resolution on the situation in Burundi at the 33rd Session, and requested that exchanges among Members should take place in a spirit of mutual respect, with full observance of the Rules of Procedure and with the main objective of achieving the public good. They also requested the EU to contribute to finding a peaceful solution to the political crisis in Venezuela.
Price Cyprien (Haiti) informed the Assembly that his country was willing to host the 34th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in December 2017. The Co-Presidents requested the competent authorities of Haiti to make the offer in writing.
13.   Approval of the minutes of the morning sitting of Tuesday, 20 June 2017

The revised minutes were approved.
14.   Date and place of the 34th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The 34th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly will be held from 18 to 20 December 2017 in the Caribbean region.
The Co-President thanked the Maltese authorities for the efficient organisation of the session, and the Members and the co-secretariat for their contributions.

(The sitting closed at 15.30)



Mémounatou IBRAHIMA (Acting)
Louis MICHEL
As from item 10 replaced by
Cecile Kashetu KYENGE (Acting)

Co-Presidents



Patrick I. GOMES
Luis Marco AGUIRIANO NALDA

Co-Secretaries-General





ANNEX I

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY








ACP representatives




EP representatives





IBRAHIMA (TOGO), Acting Co-President


MICHEL, Co-President




ANGOLA
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
BAHAMAS
BARBADOS (VP)
BELIZE
BENIN
BOTSWANA
BURKINA FASO
BURUNDI
CAMEROON
CAPE VERDE
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CHAD (VP)
COMOROS
CONGO (Democratic Republic of the) (VP)
CONGO (Republic of the)
COOK ISLANDS
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
DJIBOUTI
DOMINICA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
EQUATORIAL GUINEA (*1)

ERITREA (VP)
ETHIOPIA
FIJI (VP)
GABON
GAMBIA
GHANA
GRENADA
GUINEA
GUINEA-BISSAU
GUYANA
HAITI
KENYA
KIRIBATI
LESOTHO
LIBERIA
MADAGASCAR
MALAWI
MALI
MARSHALL ISLANDS (Republic of the)
MAURITANIA
MAURITIUS
MICRONESIA (Federated States of)
MOZAMBIQUE (VP)
NAMIBIA (VP)
NAURU
NIGER
NIGERIA
NIUE
PALAU
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
RWANDA
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
SAINT LUCIA
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
SAMOA (VP)
SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE
SENEGAL
SEYCHELLES
SIERRA LEONE (VP)
SOLOMON ISLANDS
SOMALIA (VP)
SOUTH AFRICA
SUDAN (*1)

SURINAME (VP)
SWAZILAND
TANZANIA
TIMOR-LESTE
TOGO (VP)
TONGA
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
TUVALU
UGANDA
VANUATU
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE


ADINOLFI
AGEA
ARENA
BAREKOV
BAY
BEARDER
CAMPBELL BANNERMAN
CASA
CHAUPRADE
CHRISTENSEN
CIOCCA
CORNILLET
CORRAO
CZESAK (VP)
DANCE
DELAHAYE
ENGSTRÖM
ESTARÀS FERRAGUT
FERRARA
FERREIRA (VP)
FLAŠÍKOVÁ BEŇOVÁ
FLORENZ
GÁL
GARDIAZÁBAL RUBIAL
GERICKE
GERINGER DE OEDENBERG
GIUFFRIDA
GOERENS
GRIESBECK
GUERRERO SALOM
HANNAN (VP)
HETMAN
HEUBUCH
ITURGAIZ
KARSKI
KYENGE (VP)
LÓPEZ AGUILAR (VP)
LÖSING
McAVAN
MANSCOUR (VP)
MARUSIK
MIZZI
MUSELIER (VP)
MUSSOLINI
NART (VP)
NEUSER
NOICHL
OMARJEE
PAPADIMOULIS
PEDICINI (VP)
POGLIESE
PREUSS
PUNSET
RANGEL (VP)
RIVASI (VP)
ROLIN
ROSATI
SALVINI
SARGENTINI
SCHREIJER-PIERIK
SENRA RODRÍGUEZ
STOLOJAN
THOMAS
VAIDERE
VALERO
WENTA
WERNER
WIELAND
WIŚNIEWSKA (VP)
ZÁBORSKÁ
ZELLER
ZORRINHO
ZOVKO
ZWIEFKA








COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS








ACP Members




EP Members





LOBOGNON (CÔTE D’IVOIRE), Co-Chair
GOERENS, Co-Chair
KABINDA NGOY (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO), VC


ZELLER, VC
SUDHAKAR (FIJI), VC
GUERRERO SALOM, VC




TEIXEIRA (ANGOLA)
GBIAN (BENIN)
MANGOLE (BOTSWANA)
BURKINA FASO
OWONA KONO (CAMEROON)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
GOUMANEH (DJIBOUTI)
ETHIOPIA
GUYANA
CYPRIEN (HAITI)
JAMAICA
KIRIBATI
LIBERIA
MALI
MARSHALL ISLANDS
NAURU
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
TOUM (SUDAN (*2))
ACKSON (TANZANIA)
TIMOR LESTE
TOGO
UGANDA
ZINDI (ZIMBABWE)


ADINOLFI
CASA
CHAUPRADE
CORRAO
CZESAK
DANCE
ENGSTRÖM
GABRIEL
GAL
KARSKI
KYENGE
LÖSING
LÓPEZ AGUILAR
MICHEL
POGLIESE
POREBA
PREUSS
RANGEL
VALERO
WERNER
WIELAND
ZORRINHO
ZWIEFKA








COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE AND TRADE








ACP Members




EP Members





LABOSO (KENYA, Co-Chair)


FERRARA, Co-Chair
ESTARÀS FERRAGUT, VC
MANSCOUR, VC




THOMPSON (BARBADOS)
RWASA (BURUNDI)
CAPE VERDE
OUMOURI (COMOROS)
EQUATORIAL GUINEA (*3)

GABON
KAMANO (GUINEA)
GUINEA BISSAU
SEKATLE (LESOTHO)
JHUGROO (MAURITIUS)
VAQUINA (MOZAMBIQUE)
NIGERIA
NIUE
KOIM (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)
MENGA (REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO)
RUGEMA (RWANDA)
FELIX (SAINT LUCIA)
RAINHO (SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE)
SALL (SENEGAL)
SOLOMON ISLANDS
FISH MAHLALELA (SOUTH AFRICA)
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
MISIEKABA (SURINAME)
TONGA
FORDE (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)
KOPULANDE (ZAMBIA)


ARENA
BAY
CAMPBELL BANNERMAN
CORNILLET
DELAHAYE
FLAŠÍKOVÁ BEŇOVÁ
FLORENZ
GRIESBECK
HANNAN
MIZZI
MUSELIER
NEGRESCU
OMARJEE
PAPADIMOULIS
PEDICINI
PUNSET
ROSATI
SALVINI
SARGENTINI
SCHREIJER-PIERIK
STOLOJAN
THOMAS
ZOVKO








COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND THE ENVIRONMENT








ACP Members




EP Members





GIDLOW (SAMOA, replacing the Co-Chair)


RIVASI, Co-Chair
AGEA, VC
MUSSOLINI, VC




ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
BAHAMAS (CUBA)
PEYREFITTE (BELIZE)
CHAD
JOANE (COOK ISLANDS)
DOMINICA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
NAIB (ERITREA)
GABON
SILLAH (GAMBIA)
AMOATEY (GHANA)
GRENADA
RAZAFINDRAVELO (MADAGASCAR)
MUSSA (MALAWI)
ZAMEL (MAURITANIA)
MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)
NAMUTENYA CALEY (NAMIBIA)
DIOFFO (NIGER)
PALAU
SEYCHELLES
LEWALLY (SIERRA LEONE)
SOMALIA
DLAMINI (SWAZILAND)
TAUSI (TUVALU)


ALIOT
BEARDER
CHRISTENSEN
CIOCCA
FERREIRA
GARDIAZÁBAL RUBIAL
GERICKE
GERINGER DE OEDENBERG
GIUFFRIDA
HERRANZ GARCÍA
HETMAN
HEUBUCH
MARUSIK
MCAVAN
NART
NEUSER
NOICHL
ROLIN
SENRA RODRÍGUEZ
VAIDERE
WENTA
WIŚNIEWSKA
ZABORSKA






(*1)  With observer status.

(*2)  With observer status.

(*3)  With observer status.



ANNEX II

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE AT THE SESSION HELD IN ST JULIAN’S (MALTA) FROM 19 TO 21 JUNE 2017







IBRAHIMA (TOGO), Acting Co-President


MICHEL, Co-President




PEREIRA (ANGOLA)
THOMPSON (BARBADOS)
PEYREFITTE (BELIZE)
GBIAN (BENIN)
MANGOLE (BOTSWANA)
OUSMANE (BURKINA FASO)
NJEBARIKANUYE (BURUNDI)
FERNANDES (CAPE VERDE)
KOMBO (CAMEROON)
MMADI HASSANI (COMORES)
KABINDA NGOY (CONGO, Democratic Republic of the)
VAVIA (COOK ISLANDS)
GOUMANEH (DJIBOUTI)
(DOMINICA)
PUJALS NOLASCO (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
NAIB (ERITREA)
GEMEDA DAGO (ETHIOPIA)
SUDHAKAR (FIJI)
MILEBOU (GABON)
SALLAH (THE GAMBIA)
BANDA (GHANA)
KAMANO (GUINEA)
SAIEGH (GUINEA-BISSAU)
NGUEMA MANANA (EQUATORIAL GUINEA)
CYPRIEN (HAITI)
JACKSON (JAMAICA)
ADEN (KENYA)
MAHASE-MOILOA (LESOTHO)
DUNNAH (LIBERIA)
RAZAFINDRAVELO (MADAGASCAR)
MUSSA (MALAWI)
SOUKOUNA (MALI)
FOWDAR (MAURITIUS)
VAQUINA (MOZAMBIQUE)
NEKUND (NAMIBIA)
DIOFFO (NIGER)
IRIASE (NIGERIA)
KOIM (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)
RUGEMA (RWANDA)
FELIX (SAINT LUCIA)
STRAKER (SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES)
GIDLOW (SAMOA)
CASSANDRA CORREIA (SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE)
SALL (SENEGAL)
ANDRE (SEYCHELLES)
BUNDU (SIERRA LEONE)
TAUSINGA (SOLOMON ISLANDS)
PARKIES (SOUTH AFRICA)
TOUM (SUDAN) (*1)

MISIEKABA (SURINAM)
DLAMINI (SWAZILAND)
ACKSON (TANZANIA)
WEIDOU (TCHAD)
IBRAHIMA (TOGO)
FORDE (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)
TAUSI (TUVALU)
OULANYAH (UGANDA)
TCHAMAKO MAHE (VANUATU)
KOPULANDE (ZAMBIA)
SHUMBA (ZIMBABWE)


ADINOLFI
ARENA
BAREKOV
BEARDER
CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (1)
 (2)

CORNILLET
ENGEL
GAHLER
GERICKE
GRIESBECK
GUERRERO SALOM
HETMAN
HEUBUCH
HÖLVÉNYI
JIMÉNEZ BECERRIL BARRIO
KARSKI
KYENGE
LEINEN
LIETZ
MANSCOUR
MARTIN
MICHEL
MIZZI
NEGRESCU
NEUSER
NOICHL
PONGA
PREUSS
ROSATI
SENRA RODRÍGUEZ
SILVA PEREIRA
STOLOJAN
SYLIKIOTIS
THEOCHAROUS
VALERO
VAUGHAN (1)
 (2)

WARD
WENTA
WERNER
WIŚNIEWSKA (1)
 (2)

ZÁBORSKÁ
ZELLER
ZORRINHO
ZOVKO
ZWIEFKA





Also present:


ANGOLA

TEIXEIRA
DE SOUSA MENDES
EDUARDO TXIPOIA
SIMBRÃO DE CARVALHO

BARBADOS

CHANDLER

BENIN

AHONOUKOUN
DJIMA

BOTSWANA

NGAKA

BURKINA FASO

SOME
COMPAORE
LANKANDE

BURUNDI

NTISEZERNANA
NDARUVUKANYE
MUHUNGU
SINDAYIKENGERA

CAMEROON

AWUDU MBAYA
OWONA KONO

CONGO (REPUBLIC OF THE)

MABAYA GIZI AMINE
KATUMWA
SILUWANGI LUMBA
MOLIWA MOLEKO
MAKA BASIALIA

GABON

OWONO NGUEMA
JOUMAS dit
SALAMBA

THE GAMBIA

SOWE
CAMARA
S. CEESAY
K. CEESAY

GHANA

FUESINI

GUINEA

DIALLO
SYLLA

GUINEA-BISSAU

BAME

MALAWI


MALI

DIALLO TOURE
THERA
MAIGA

MOZAMBIQUE

NAMBURETE
SITHOLE

NAMIBIA

VENAANI

NIGER

MAHAMANE
DILLE
CHEKOU KORE
AMADOU

NIGERIA

LIDANI
OGBUOJI
OLATUNBOSUN
YUNUSA
OKORIE
NSIEGBE

SENEGAL

TALL
BALLA LO
NDIAYE
DIALLO

SIERRA LEONE

LEWALLY
KUYEMBEH

SOUTH AFRICA

MAHLALELA
STEEBHUISEN

SOUTH SUDAN

OHIDE OMAHA

SUDAN

OHMER ABDALLA
MOHAMMED SALIH
ELSAYED IBRAHIM
AHMED ASSOUD

TANZANIA

MATIKO
LWOTA

TCHAD

ZARA AFFONO
LAOHINGAMAYE
GARSOULDE MONANGAR

TOGO

FABRE
LAWSON

UGANDA

KINYAMATAMA
WAMAI WANGA
NOKRACH

ZIMBABWE

ZINDI
MLOTSHWA

ACP COUNCIL

ABRAHAM TEKESTE, Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation (Ethiopia), President-in-Office of the ACP Council

EU COUNCIL

CARMELO ABELA, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion (Malta), President-in-Office of the EU Council

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

NEVEN MIMICA, Member of the Commission with responsibility for international cooperation and development
CHRISTOS STYLIANIDES, Member of the Commission with responsibility for humanitarian aid and crisis management

EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE

JOAQUIN TASSO-VILALLONGA

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE

YVES SOMVILLE, Chair of the ACP Follow-up Committee, EESC

ACP SECRETARIAT

PATRICK GOMES, Co-Secretary-General

EU SECRETARIAT

AGUIRIANO NALDA, Co-Secretary-General


(*1)  With observer status.

(1)  Present on 19 June 2017.

(2)  Present on 20 June 2017.



ANNEX III

TEXTS ADOPTED


RESOLUTION (1)

on the financing of political parties in ACP and EU countries

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,







—


meeting in St Julian’s (Malta) from 19 to 21 June 2017,










—


having regard to Article 18(1) of its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in particular Article 7(3) thereof,










—


having regard to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,










—


having regard to Article 10 of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, adopted in Maputo on 11 July 2003,










—


having regard to the resolution on transparency and accountability in the funding of political parties and election campaigns, adopted by the 124th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly on 20 April 2011 in Panama City,










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 6 April 2011 on the application of Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding (2),










—


having regard to the Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago of 19 April 2009,










—


having regard to the recommendation Rec(2003)4 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member states on common rules against corruption in the funding of political parties and electoral campaigns, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 8 April 2003,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Political Affairs (ACP-EU/102.286/fin.),










A.


whereas to fulfil their role of representing and ensuring the participation of citizens, political parties today require substantial funds to compete in political contests;










B.


whereas funding for political parties derives from both public and private sources, yet the primary source is self-funding from membership dues and party fundraising events;










C.


whereas public financing has become an increasingly popular way of ensuring regular, equal and fair support for political parties;










D.


whereas it is to the sole benefit of the public and democracy that political parties are adequately funded, with the sole purpose of carrying out their work within an agreed framework of accountability and transparency mechanisms; whereas any misuse of public money should be sanctioned with effective rules;










E.


whereas the amount of funding, both public and private, is often conditioned by the size of the political party and the economic situation of countries;










F.


whereas some ACP countries lack the capacity to subsidise political parties because economic underdevelopment and resource constraints limit public funding and private donations;










G.


whereas mandatory disclosure of political party funding is essential for the rule of law and for greater transparency and accountability, giving the public an opportunity to understand the role and actions of political parties;










H.


whereas transparency on the provenance of political funding is essential in order to prevent all forms of interference involving money from dubious or illegal sources; whereas an increase in illicit funding in political processes represents a major threat to democracy;










I.


whereas political corruption remains a major problem, with reforms to curb corrupt behaviour often initiated in the aftermath of political finance scandals and public outcries; whereas corruption in political finance may take many forms, from the use of donations for personal enrichment to the abuse of state resources; whereas the continued practice of vote-buying is prevalent in some countries;










J.


whereas fundraising can give rise to conflicts of interest, and private donors might seek to use political financing to influence decision-taking, thus negating the principle of democratic equality;










K.


whereas the development of social networks is transforming traditional political financing processes through micro-financing and the involvement of volunteers;










L.


whereas private funding can lead to unequal financial capacity among political parties; whereas to ensure democratic fairness, additional financing possibilities need to be taken into account;










M.


whereas the illegal use of public funds strongly undermines public confidence in government institutions and democracy itself;










N.


whereas independent monitoring of the financing of political parties remains a considerable challenge; whereas in many ACP countries a genuine regulatory framework for political financing is still lacking, and few countries have the administrative capacity to collect and verify the financial reports;










O.


whereas the legislation on political financing should include regulations on private and public funding, expenditure, accountability, disclosure of the origin of funds, oversight and sanctions;










P.


whereas the regulation of political financing and the use of funds is crucial in order to preserve democracy and enhance competition among a broad range of political parties, as well as to prevent corruption and use of illicit funds;










Q.


whereas poor enforcement of regulation serves to facilitate uncontrolled spending during elections and illicit practices; whereas in most ACP countries imposing sanctions on violators of political financing rules remains a challenge;










R.


whereas most EU countries have strict regulations on external or foreign funding that prevent foreign interests from influencing the political process;










S.


whereas participation and access for women in politics is restricted in practice by the difficulty of gaining access to resources; whereas political parties have a key role to play in securing a fair gender balance in politics;












1.


Considers that political party funding should aim to give people a voice in the democratic political process by encouraging a range of different opinions and political perspectives, together with meaningful participation in the political process by all actors, so as to foster democracy and guarantee the possibility of alternation of office;












2.


Recalls that political parties require appropriate funding to fulfil their core function of running election campaigns, but also to carry out activities relating to empowerment, development of policy programmes, political education and training and institutional development;












3.


Believes that public funding, although complementary to private funding, remains essential to improve transparency, accountability and equity in political financing; urges all governments to guarantee a free political stage for true meaningful competition between political parties so that they may be established and develop the capacity to collect funds without intimidation by the ruling party;












4.


Is convinced that corruption poses a serious threat to the rule of law, democracy, human rights, equity and social justice; accordingly, urges all states to adopt or reinforce anti-corruption legislation regarding the funding of political parties and election campaigns and to fully ensure their implementation and enforcement;












5.


Recalls that the principle of state neutrality must be respected under all circumstances and that the freedom of organisation and independence of political groups or parties should not be conditional on any allocation of public funds;












6.


Urges governments to separate institutional resources from the ruling party’s resources, to safeguard the neutrality of institutions and to foster an environment of real competition between political parties in order to achieve an electoral level playing field; considers that the abuse of state resources is a major threat to good governance and to the establishment of an inclusive democratic system;












7.


Urges all governments to establish and fully enforce a set of regulations on political party funding, including independent effective control mechanisms, criminal sanctions and objective rules on respect for democracy and human rights;












8.


Calls for the mandatory disclosure of political party funding from all sources (public, private, foreign and within the party) so as to ensure full transparency and accountability;












9.


Believes that strengthening the banking system in ACP countries could considerably limit the impact of illicit funding on political life and facilitate the fight against corruption;












10.


Urges parliaments to strengthen legislation regarding the transparency and accountability of political parties, and to pass adequate legislation to enforce the principle of democratic equality and to regulate the drivers of the cost of politics, including by imposing campaign spending limits;












11.


Calls for the establishment of independent regulatory bodies responsible for monitoring the management of the financial accounts of political parties and having the power to enforce compliance, to investigate parties’ financial reports and to monitor the financial status of elected representatives, including by imposing criminal or financial sanctions for violations; calls on the EU to actively support the reinforcement of the ACP countries’ administrative capacities to increase the efficiency of the financial monitoring system, through technical assistance and knowledge-sharing programmes;












12.


Recalls that regulatory bodies need adequate resources and a clear mandate to be able to investigate breaches of rules on political finance and enforce appropriate sanctions;












13.


Urges all governments to establish and reinforce robust preventive measures designed to combat corruption and to set up independent disciplinary bodies to investigate and apply sanctions for corruption in political parties or misuse of financial resources;












14.


Urges all governments to take all the necessary measures to ensure the integrity of political actors by preventing the perpetration of fraud or any illegal practices;












15.


Considers that intrusion of illicit funds into politics poses a particular threat to democracy and its institutions on all continents;












16.


Calls for public accountability to be strengthened by addressing the issue of the unregulated use of public funds, which enables the abuse of state resources and diverts public money from general public-interest use; calls, furthermore, for limits to the private financing of political parties and, where applicable, for transparency and oversight by a suitable public body;












17.


Urges the introduction of restrictions to prevent companies in receipt of, or in a position to receive, public contracts from making donations to political parties;












18.


Calls on all governments to introduce bans or caps on foreign donations to political parties so as to prevent foreign interests from influencing the political process and to require the disclosure of any donations received from abroad;












19.


Affirms that the effective implementation of regulations on political party funding with accountability and transparency mechanisms is an important factor in strengthening public confidence in institutions and electoral processes;












20.


Takes the view that clear and balanced regulation of the financing of political parties would also establish a relationship of trust between public authorities and political parties;












21.


Urges all governments to enforce gender equality requirements for public funding schemes for political parties so as to facilitate access to sustainable financial resources for women, thus enhancing their political empowerment;












22.


Encourages civil society organisations and the media to continuously and independently monitor the funding of political parties, to denounce any illicit practices and to inform citizens about the exercise of power; calls, further, for legislation to protect whistle-blowers;












23.


Believes that civil society organisations, together with financial regulatory bodies, can play a major role in raising awareness among citizens, political parties and all stakeholders of the importance of regulating political financing;












24.


Encourages EU and ACP countries to define common directives on the financing of political parties to ensure good governance in their countries;












25.


Calls for these rules on the financing of political parties not to be limited to political parties, and also to apply to their electoral campaigns and other forms of political participation, such as referendums;












26.


Urges those countries which have not yet done so to ratify the UN Convention against Corruption and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;












27.


Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the African Union, the regional organisations of the ACP states and the Secretary General of the United Nations.






RESOLUTION (3)

on improving aid and development effectiveness in EU-ACP cooperation

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,







—


meeting in St Julian’s (Malta) from 19 to 21 June 2017,










—


having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement) (4), and to the revisions of the Cotonou Agreement of 2005 and 2010 (5),










—


having regard to the Declaration of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, adopted in May 2011 in Budapest,










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 22 May 2008 on the follow-up to the Paris Declaration of 2005 on Aid Effectiveness (6),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 5 July 2011 on the future of EU budget support to developing countries (7),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2011 on the 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (8),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 11 December 2013 with recommendations to the Commission on EU donor coordination on development aid (9),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 19 May 2015 on Financing for Development (10),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 14 April 2016 on the private sector and development (11),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 12 May 2016 on the follow-up to and review of the 2030 Agenda (12),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 7 June 2016 on the EU 2015 Report on Policy Coherence for Development (13),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 22 November 2016 on increasing the effectiveness of development cooperation (14),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 14 February 2017 on the Revision of the European Consensus on Development (15),










—


having regard to the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development and the outcome document adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015, entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, and in particular to Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out therein, committing UN member states to strengthen the means of implementation of the agenda and to revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development (16),










—


having regard to the ‘Addis Ababa Action Agenda’, the outcome document adopted at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13-16 July 2015) and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 (17),










—


having regard to the 2002 Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development and the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus,










—


having regard to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, adopted at the Second High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in 2005, the Accra Agenda for Action adopted at the Third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held in 2008 in Accra (Ghana) (18), and the outcome of the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held in Busan (Republic of Korea) in December 2011, which launched the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) (19),










—


having regard to the Dili Declaration of 10 April 2010, which concerns peace-building and state-building (20), and to the ‘New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States’ launched on 30 November 2011 at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (21),










—


having regard to the Second High-Level Meeting of the GPEDC, which took place in Nairobi from 28 November to 1 December 2016 (22),










—


having regard to the OECD/UNDP 2014 progress report entitled Making Development Cooperation More Effective (23),










—


having regard to the Position of the ACP Group of States for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (24),










—


having regard to Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which defines the reduction and eradication of poverty as the primary objective of EU development policy and requires that the Union and its Member States comply with the commitments which they have agreed to in the context of the UN and other competent organisations and take account of the objectives of development cooperation in the policies that they implement which are likely to affect developing countries,










—


having regard to the 2005 European Consensus on Development (25) and to the Proposal for a new European Consensus on Development (26),










—


having regard to the European Union Code of Conduct on Complementarity and the Division of Labour in Development Policy of 15 May 2007 (27),










—


having regard to the Operational Framework on Aid Effectiveness (28), which is based on the Council conclusions of 17 November 2009 on ‘An Operational Framework on Aid Effectiveness’, the Council conclusions of 14 June 2010 on ‘Cross-country Division of Labour’ and the Council conclusions of 9 December 2010 on ‘Transparency and Mutual Accountability’,










—


having regard to the Council conclusions of 26 May 2015 on a New Global Partnership for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development after 2015 (29),










—


having regard to the Council conclusions of 12 May 2016 on stepping up joint programming (30),










—


having regard to the Council conclusions of 12 May 2016 on the Annual Report 2016 to the European Council on EU development aid targets (31),










—


having regard to the Commission Staff Working Document of 23 June 2015 entitled 2015 EU Accountability Report on Financing for Development — Review of progress by the EU and its Member States (SWD(2015)0128),










—


having regard to the ‘Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy: Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe’, presented in June 2016 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (32),










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade (ACP-EU/xxxxxx),










A.


whereas aid effectiveness contributes to improving the quality of life, reducing poverty and realising sustainable development objectives;










B.


whereas poverty reduction, the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are the main objectives of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, and whereas the European Development Fund (EDF) has been the main EU financial instrument for development and humanitarian intervention;










C.


whereas development aid should take into account the issue of security, as it has become a primary existential concern for populations in several developing or crisis regions;










D.


whereas a majority of ACP countries have remained among the Low Income Countries (LICs) despite more than 50 years of development cooperation;










E.


whereas current challenges regarding aid effectiveness must be met in a holistic way, reflecting the reality of the 21st century, including security, nutrition, water supply, and effective use of the soil and other natural resources;










F.


whereas provider states of Official Development Assistance (ODA) have only allocated 0,46 % of GNI to development, resulting in a total in excess of USD 2 trillion not being made available to developing countries;










G.


whereas ODA can play a crucial role in delivering on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular in low-income countries and in combating extreme poverty and inequality, if it respects the principles of effective development cooperation, namely country ownership, transparency and accountability, focus on results, and inclusiveness;










H.


whereas the 2016 report of the GPEDC notes that progress on implementing country ownership commitments has levelled off in recent years;










I.


whereas only half of development cooperation is channelled through recipient countries’ own financial management and procurement systems;










J.


whereas development aid-financed projects and programmes should be drawn up in line with the objectives and priorities of the beneficiary countries;










K.


whereas development aid is being channelled through a multiplicity of uncoordinated projects and programmes, thus weakening countries’ capacity for coherent policy formulation;










L.


whereas, while progress on reducing the debt burden of developing countries was evident at the beginning of the millennium, current debt levels are rising;










M.


whereas the long-term presence of a development partner, programme-based support, and systematic engagement and dialogue with the national government facilitate mutual trust and understanding;










N.


whereas, besides development aid and cooperation, other development policy tools are necessary to effectively eradicate poverty and promote the SDGs;










O.


whereas development effectiveness, understood as the effective use of all means and resources geared towards development, depends not only on aid donors but also on the existence of effective and responsive institutions, sound policies, the rule of law, inclusive democratic governance, and safeguards against corruption within developing countries and illicit financial flows at international level;












1.


Deplores the fact that many EU Member States have not met the target of earmarking 0,7 % of GNI for development aid and that some have lowered the percentage that they spend on such aid; congratulates the five EU Member States which have reached this goal and underlines that only European countries have achieved this objective or have made serious efforts to reach it; calls on the EU Member States to respect the commitment of providing 0,7 % of GNI as ODA and to adopt a clear roadmap for how and when they will achieve this goal;












2.


Urges donors to allocate the necessary financial, technical and political resources for achieving the SDG targets by 2030;












3.


Calls on donor countries to take immediate measures to meet the commitments of the Paris Declaration and of the Busan Partnership; underlines that the main goal of this cooperation should be independence and self-sufficiency for the countries receiving development aid;












4.


Warns against the dilution of ODA criteria with the aim of covering expenses other than those directly linked to promoting sustainable development in developing countries;












5.


Calls on the European Union to favour a differentiated approach, taking into account the levels of development, economic and social needs, geographical and climatic realities and the choices and priorities of each of the beneficiary countries;












6.


Recalls that the key priority should be the reduction, and in the long term the eradication, of poverty;












7.


Reiterates the need to guarantee the ACP countries’ right to food security, which includes the right of farmers to produce food for their people, by putting an end to land-grabbing and guaranteeing farmers access to land, seed and water;












8.


Encourages recipient countries’ parliaments to adopt national policies on development aid in order to improve accountability of donors and of recipient governments, enhance public financial management and absorption capacity, and improve conditions for receiving budget support and, in the long run, reducing dependence on aid;












9.


Calls for a more careful assessment of local needs and situations by the donors in order to maximise aid effectiveness; calls on the recipients to provide timely and accurate information in this regard;












10.


Urges donors and recipients to work together for a better coordination of aid programmes, including by establishing accurate monitoring mechanisms of aid effectiveness;












11.


Recalls that recipient countries should themselves define the development model and priorities they wish to implement, in line with the ‘country ownership’ principle;












12.


Calls on the ACP countries to intensify their regional integration efforts to address their common challenges such as regional security, environmental protection, natural resource management, the organisation of economic flows and trade relations;












13.


Stresses that development aid should be given in the form of grants, not loans, so as to avoid making the debt burden heavier;












14.


Takes the view that a lasting solution to the situation in several ACP countries will only be possible if action is taken to ensure that people finally benefit from their countries’ natural resources;












15.


Highlights the fact that the level of public debt and debt servicing of some ACP countries is clearly unsustainable and severely restricts investment, growth and the state’s capacity to properly finance its social functions such as health, education and social security; calls for a new framework of cooperation, genuinely capable of promoting the sovereign development of the ACP countries; invites the EU Member States to initiate and support a process of debt relief in accordance with the above-mentioned UN initiatives in the most indebted countries, thereby promoting economic and social development;












16.


Calls for the EU and its Member States to increase financial support and humanitarian aid;












17.


Deplores the fact that EU Member States are cutting back their involvement in food aid programmes; calls for the aid provided by the EU and its Member States to ACP countries to be used, as a priority, to address problems linked to severe inequalities, poverty, chronic malnutrition, access to health and public services, particularly reproductive healthcare, and the achievement of the SDGs;












18.


Calls for food aid to be increased and to be used, as a priority, to buy food from local producers;












19.


Urges the Member States to publish the Busan implementation plans and report on their efforts;












20.


Highlights the need to position the GPEDC strongly in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda; stresses that the GPEDC should play a strong role in the evidence-based aspects of monitoring and accountability; underlines the need for the GPEDC to provide clearly defined channels for cooperation for specific development actors beyond OECD donors;












21.


Welcomes those OECD initiatives which might contribute to reducing illicit financial flows, and calls on the international community to enhance cooperation in order to increase the transparency of tax regimes; insists on the crucial role and responsibilities of multinational companies and financial institutions in this regard;












22.


Calls on donors and recipients to draw up a common and binding normative framework under the auspices of the UN, and to put in place safeguards and guarantees to ensure that public and private companies comply with the principles of the UN labour conventions and with social, environmental and anti-corruption standards;












23.


Stresses the need to simplify access to aid projects in order to facilitate the participation of citizens, civil society organisations and states;












24.


Underlines that aid is a catalyser of development, not its main source; recognises, in this regard, that the ultimate goal of aid is to reach a situation where it is no longer needed;












25.


Urges that we move beyond the donor-recipient paradigm, and calls for enhanced cooperation in the scientific and technological domain;












26.


Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the regional and national parliaments of the ACP countries and the EU Member States, and the regional organisations of ACP countries.






RESOLUTION (33)

on the role of sport as an enabler for education and poverty eradiction

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,







—


meeting in Malta from 19 to 21 June 2017,










—


having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement), and to subsequent revisions to the agreement adopted in 2005 and 2010 (34),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 5 June 2003 on women and sport (35),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 22 April 2004 on respect for core labour standards in the production of sports goods for the Olympic Games (36),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 13 November 2007 on the role of sport in education (37),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 8 May 2008 on the White Paper on Sport (38),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 19 February 2009 on Social Economy (39),










—


having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 2 February 2017 on an integrated approach to Sport Policy: good governance, accessibility and integrity (40),










—


having regard to the European Parliament declaration of 16 December 2010 on increased European Union support for grassroots sports (41),










—


having regard to the Commission White Paper on Sport of 11 July 2007 (COM(2007)0391),










—


having regard to the Commission Communication of 22 December 2005 entitled ‘The EU action in the field of Education through Sport: building on EYES 2004 achievements’ (COM(2005)0680),










—


having regard to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make football a force for development in Africa, in the Caribbean and in Pacific countries, signed by the European Commission and FIFA in 2006,










—


having regard to the Council conclusions of 18 November 2010 on the role of sport as a source of and a driver for active social inclusion (42),










—


having regard to the Declaration of Punta del Este of December 1999 and to UNESCO’s round table meeting on traditional sports and games, dealing with recognition of traditional sports and games as part of intangible heritage and a symbol of cultural diversity,










—


having regard to the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015,










—


having regard to the Transforming Our World: UN 2030 Development agenda, adopted in September 2015,










—


having regard to the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 2016 entitled ‘Sport as a Means to promote Education, Health, Development and Peace’,










—


having regard to Article 18(1) of its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment (ACP-EU/xxx.xxx vxx-xx),










A.


whereas the right to sport and physical education has been recognised as a fundamental right for all and gradually incorporated into the main human rights declarations;










B.


whereas paragraph 37 of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda states that sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development;










C.


whereas sport has proven to be a cost-effective and flexible tool for promoting peace and development objectives;










D.


whereas sport is a powerful social tool that can bring together people from different ethnic, cultural, religious, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds;










E.


whereas costs associated with sporting activities vary depending on the sport;










F.


whereas both sport and play in childhood can be factors in preventing young people and children being drawn towards a world of violence and can also help offset the risk of them dropping out from school;










G.


whereas sport can be a source and a driver for social inclusion and gender equality;










H.


whereas physical activity is essential to the education and health of human beings at every stage of their lives, contributing to their social, physical and mental development;










I.


whereas the right of children to play and enjoy sporting activities is crucial for their health and for their physical, social and personal development;










J.


whereas sports can also be used as an effective deterrent to the use of drugs among young people by engaging their time and energy, and as a measure for remedying social ills;










K.


whereas sport can be an effective response to violence;










L.


whereas sport can contribute to peacebuilding and conflict resolution, as demonstrated by the ‘Football for Peace’ initiative;










M.


whereas sporting activities can nurture young people’s leadership skills and familiarity with positive social norms and help them to recover self-esteem;










N.


whereas the principle of fair play that guides competition in sport helps to promote morality in young people and thus build a society that is healthy physically and morally;










O.


whereas physical education and sport are important tools for empowering girls and women and allowing them to benefit from its positive impact on health and psychological conditions;










P.


whereas there is discrimination against girls and women regarding access to sports, in particular those traditionally reserved for men;










Q.


whereas sport plays an important part in raising awareness of one’s body and health and promoting respect for them;










R.


whereas it is important to promote access to sport for all children and young people, eliminating the risk of all forms of discrimination;










S.


whereas sports can also be used to spur creativity and innovation among young learners;










T.


whereas the income generated from sporting activities and events, if fairly distributed along the value chain, can create jobs in sport-related careers, training and campaigns;










U.


whereas providing support in areas relating to the organisation of sporting events, such as catering and hospitality, could facilitate the diversification of income-generating activities; whereas it is crucial to carry out careful and constant monitoring of the use of these funds so as to ensure effectiveness and transparency;










V.


whereas social science research has found that sport contributes to raising awareness and helping to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS;










W.


whereas sport can be used as a means for humanitarian aid, especially in conflict prevention, peace and reconciliation programmes and in the treatment of psychological trauma;










X.


whereas sport is a powerful tool to improve and strengthen the mental well-being of participants;










Y.


whereas sport can contribute to conveying a positive image of developing countries, and sporting events can create tremendous opportunities to raise awareness of the ACP countries’ potential;










Z.


whereas sport can play a major role in the fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination, and contribute to the integration of people, transcending race, religion and ethnicity;










AA.


whereas sport, through its communicative power, can became a powerful fundraising tool;










AB.


whereas the active participation of developing countries in the Olympic Games and other international sporting events is essential for the forging of inclusive and equitable societies;










AC.


whereas sport is a key instrument for social inclusion and the promotion of human values of mutual respect, teamwork, honesty, empathy, communication, cooperation, social justice, equality, transparency, impartiality and friendship;










AD.


whereas the values conveyed through sport help develop knowledge, motivation, skills, including teamwork, fair play, cooperation, discipline and tolerance, and a readiness to make a personal effort; whereas these skills are essential for future participation in group activities and professional life and can stimulate social cohesion within communities and societies;










AE.


whereas sporting activities can help develop sustainable tourism at local, regional and national level and generate jobs;










AF.


whereas sport can have a vast environmental footprint;












1.


Calls on the European Union to promote the use of sport within its development policy and to foster efforts to support the development of inclusive national policies that address needs and aspirations, especially those of young people, both boys and girls, and to pay greater attention to sporting and physical activities in the relevant sectoral strategies;












2.


Notes that the European Union follows a long-term, holistic and high-impact approach designed to support beneficiaries on the path to education, training and employment with a view to ensuring sustainable livelihoods; stresses the need, in this context, to broaden the scope of specific actions that support sport in the most equitable and sustainable manner as a formative tool for human beings and their spiritual and physical development;












3.


Recalls that good governance must be a condition for the autonomy of sporting organisations, in compliance with the principles of transparency, accountability, equal opportunities, social inclusion and democracy, including appropriate stakeholder inclusiveness;












4.


Recommends careful scrutiny of the use of sports funding to ensure that it effectively fulfils its intended purpose;












5.


Calls on the ACP countries and the EU Member States to contribute to the setting-up of ethical standards and reforms to ensure that sport will fully contribute to sustainable development and peace; stresses, in particular, the need for a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and other types of crime in sport; underlines that the application of good governance principles in sport, together with monitoring, supervision and appropriate legal instruments, is a key factor to help eradicate corruption and other malpractices;












6.


Stresses the need for a zero-tolerance policy towards racist chanting and promoting violence and hatred;












7.


Calls for all the necessary steps to be taken to prevent women from falling prey to violence, notably of a sexual or machist nature, in sport;












8.


Emphasises that physical activity and sport are essential to the education and health of human beings at every stage of their lives; calls upon the ACP and EU Member States to include sport and physical education activities in curricula and to support those activities with adequate infrastructure and methodology; considers, therefore, that physical education and the practice of physical activity and sport should, to a large extent, be part of the public service remit, so as to offer equality of access to everyone from the earliest years onwards;












9.


Calls on the ACP countries and EU Member States to boost the role of sport in their strategic national policies and development plans;












10.


Invites the Commission in particular to better integrate sport in the essential sectors of development aid and to support ACP countries to pro-actively address the social and environmental challenges of sport while developing best practices and delivering solutions;












11.


Recalls that sport can be low-cost and utilise locally-available resources; urges, therefore, the ACP States to promote the setting-up of local sporting organisations; encourages local authorities to guarantee access to physical activities and to develop accessible sporting infrastructure; encourages the corporate sector to contribute to these goals;












12.


Emphasises the role of sport in facilitating the integration of disadvantaged groups; underlines the importance of education through sport; recognises the importance of grassroots sports in achieving social integration and encourages initiatives in this regard;












13.


Emphasises the important role of sport in the promotion of volunteering, which in turn creates and nurtures community cohesion, self-fulfilment and reciprocity, and serves to create accessible, low-cost sports activities and events, especially at grassroots level, and is an important means of non-formal education contributing to youth employment;












14.


Calls upon the parties to enhance and expand public after-school sports and physical activity programmes; stresses that ACP countries and EU Member States should invest more in the development of sports infrastructures and activities; considers it necessary to implement strategic plans for the construction of community facilities providing the same resources for girls as for boys and carefully coordinated national infrastructures with sufficient public funding to promote both amateur and high-level sport, ensuring that sports facilities are not the preserve of the wealthiest and can be used equally by all;












15.


Calls on the parties to develop low-cost and affordable programmes for training teachers and sports coaches;












16.


Emphasises the essential goal of participation by women and girls in all sports, and stresses the need for the parties to provide equal and fair access to sport for women and girls in order to improve their physical and mental health, advance their education, prevent sexist stereotypes and develop more equal societies;












17.


Stresses the need to promote the rights of people with disabilities by supporting sporting activities and through public campaigns and sports tournaments; urges both EU Member States and ACP countries to implement inclusive sports programmes for people with disabilities, starting at school; stresses that people with disabilities should have equal access to all sports facilities, to the appropriate support staff, and to transport and other services;












18.


Points to the huge potential of sport as an enabler of social inclusion; urges, therefore, the setting-up of ad hoc sporting events with the aim of improving the social inclusion of women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and ethnic/cultural minorities; recommends that these values be instilled on a daily basis and not just on the occasion of sporting events and exhibitions;












19.


Calls on the EU Member States and ACP countries to foster a proactive policy for affording women equal access to all sports disciplines and giving women’s and men’s sports results equal prominence; calls on the public media to ensure equal coverage of all sports; encourages the private media to ensure coverage in sports newspapers of women’s sporting activities;












20.


Urges the ACP countries and EU Member States to relaunch and encourage traditional sports by creating and strengthening programmes in this regard;












21.


Calls on the ACP countries and EU Member States to take measures that will help young people to develop their talents and abilities, even in financially demanding sports;












22.


Emphasises the value of non-competitive and individual sports, and of street games;












23.


Urges the Commission and EU Member States, in light of the commitment to ‘Leave no one behind’, which featured prominently in discussions on the 2030 Agenda, to include sport in development agendas and to make it a subject of dialogue with partner countries;












24.


Notes the positive psychological outcome of sporting activities used in humanitarian aid and relief activities; urges, therefore, all relevant ACP and EU actors to include a sporting dimension in their humanitarian assistance strategies;












25.


Observes that the high-profit sport industry could become more involved in supporting social development activities, such as a structured combination of sporting activities with education, life skills and healthcare programmes; calls, therefore, on the EU countries and ACP Member States to negotiate programmes with the sport industry, following the example of the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Commission and FIFA; recommends that sport be promoted at grassroots level also, so as to extend unrestricted participation to rural and peripheral areas;












26.


Urges the parties to develop EU-ACP mobility programmes and appropriate measures for young amateur athletes and coaches to enable them to learn new training methods; calls for visa facilitation agreements to be considered as part of such mobility programmes;












27.


Encourages local bodies to work together and with other sectors with a view to developing cross-border and regional sporting initiatives;












28.


Takes note of the lack of amateur sports infrastructures and qualified personnel specialised in physical activity in the ACP countries; urges the Commission, therefore, to provide expertise and to promote mobility schemes between ACP countries and EU Member States in order to train qualified sports teachers;












29.


Regrets the lack of women among coaches, referees, doctors, technicians and managers; calls on ACP countries and EU Member States to promote specific programmes to ensure the participation of women in these areas;












30.


Stresses the importance of promoting ‘dual career’ agreements that enable athletes to combine their sporting careers with education and work and to take up a new professional career once their sporting career is over;












31.


Stresses the importance of encouraging sports activity as an important means of personal and collective fulfilment and not only as a career, so as to avoid the risk of creating false illusions in young people;












32.


Invites the Commission to support data collection and research in order to assess the positive impact of sport on development and social inclusion;












33.


Invites the ACP countries and EU Member States in which the same type of sport is of high importance to conclude bilateral agreements on technical assistance and the exchange of athletes and expertise; recognises furthermore that professional clubs and NGOs can play an important role in providing coaching expertise;












34.


Urges the EU and ACP Member States to fund sports activities targeting teenagers and youth who are at risk of drug abuse and other social ills;












35.


Regrets the very low levels of sponsorship for women’s sport; calls on the ACP countries and EU Member States to seek the promotion of sport on an equal footing;












36.


Urges the governments of the ACP countries and EU Member States to encourage and recognise creativity and innovation, and requests, furthermore, EU countries to assist ACP countries in funding sports infrastructure so that unemployed youths can use these facilities to develop themselves instead of emigrating to the EU and elsewhere;












37.


Reiterates that physical education at school is an essential entry point for children to learn life skills and acquire values, knowledge and understanding to help them develop positive patterns for lifelong physical activity, well-being and healthy lifestyle and behaviour;












38.


Notes the positive role of sport for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons in offering a sense of normality and structure in destabilising environments, and urges the creation of programmes to encourage the participation of these persons in sport;












39.


Stresses the importance of sport in the reintegration of child labourers and soldiers into society, and as a tool to mobilise against child labour and child soldiering;












40.


Stresses the important role of sport in protecting young people against human trafficking and as a tool to mobilise against this practice;












41.


Emphasises the role of sport as a vehicle to help mitigate the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS by incorporating prevention programmes into sports activities;












42.


Emphasises the need for sporting bodies to be environmentally responsible, minimise the effect of sport on the environment and provide a clean and safe environment for participants to engage in sports;












43.


Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the regional and national parliaments of the ACP countries and of the EU Member States, and the regional organisations of ACP countries.






RESOLUTION (43)

on the security situation in Sahel-Saharan region

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly,







—


meeting in St Julian’s (Malta) from 19 to 21 June 2017,










—


having regard to Article 18(2) of its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the Partnership agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Union of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, and modified in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 and Ouagadougou on 22 June 2010,










—


having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,










—


having regard to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 25 September 2015,










—


having regard to the Joint declaration by the African Union, the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States, and the European Union of 7 March 2017 on the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali from the Algiers Process,










—


having regard to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2295(2016) of 29 June 2016 on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA),










—


having regard to UNSC resolution 2337(2017) of 19 January 2017 on Peace consolidation in West Africa,










—


having regard to UNSC resolution 2349(2017) of 31 March 2017 on Peace and security in Africa,










—


having regard to UNSC resolution 2100(2013) of 25 April 2013 establishing the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and UNSC decision No S/2013/354 for the adoption of the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel region in June 2013,










—


having regard to the UN Secretary-General’s report of 8 April 2013 to the UN Security Council on Western Sahara, in particular its reference to the close connection between Western Sahara and the situation in the Sahel,










—


having regard to the UN Secretary-General’s report of 17 June 2013 to the UN Security Council on transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking in West Africa and the Sahel region,










—


having regard to the UN Security Council’s Final report of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1973 (2011) concerning Libya of 19 February 2014,










—


having regard to the statement of 10 February 2016 of the UN Special Envoy for the Secretary-General for the Sahel to the Security Council,










—


having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 27 June 1981 in Nairobi (Kenya),










—


having regard to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance of 30 January 2007 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia),










—


having regard to the Sahel G5 Convention, signed in Nouakchott (Mauritania) by Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger on 19 December 2014,










—


having regard to the political declaration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on prevention of drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and organised crime in West Africa and the related Praia Action Plan 2008-2011 adopted in 2008 and followed by the new Action Plan 2016-2020 adopted in Abuja in September 2016,










—


having regard to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and 16 West African states, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA),










—


having regard to the Joint Africa-EU Strategy adopted in 2007 and to the Roadmap for EU-Africa cooperation (2014-2017) adopted at the Fourth EU-Africa Summit in April 2014,










—


having regard to the joint communication of 4 May 2017 of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) for a renewed impetus of the Africa-EU partnership,










—


having regard to the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security policy presented by the HR/VP on 28 June 2016,










—


having regard to the EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel region adopted in March 2011 and to the EU’s Sahel Regional Action Plan 2015-2020 adopted on 20 April 2015 and updated in June 2016,










—


having regard to the EU Trust Fund for Africa,










—


having regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) actions plans launched in 2003 and revised in November 2015 and the association agreements for Algeria and Morocco,










—


having regard to the European Commission’s Humanitarian Implementation Plan for the Sahel adopted in 2014 (EPP) and the launch of the Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative for the Sahel and West Africa (AGIR) in 2012,










—


having regard to the launch of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP Sahel Niger) in July 2012,










—


having regard to the launch of the EU CSDP Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali in February 2013,










—


having regard to the EU Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission Libya (EUBAM Libya), established in 2013 and due to run until August 2017,










—


having regard to the Council of the European Union conclusions of 19th June 2017 on Mali and Sahel,










A.


whereas the Sahel-Saharan region is one of the most underdeveloped parts of the African continent and one of the poorest regions in the world, suffering from an unequal distribution of income; whereas the region has been blighted by different challenges, including political shocks and instability, systemic poverty and inequality, armed conflicts, natural disasters and explosive demographic growth and a persistent lack of governmental capacity and state authority;










B.


whereas the challenges the region faces have facilitated the expansion of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM), Boko Haram, Daesh, Al Mourabitoun, Ansar Dine and Al Shabaab; whereas their presence has further undermined security and the economy, aggravated extreme poverty and made the countries of the region a supply zone for extremists and made young people vulnerable to terrorist recruitment; whereas women are particularly vulnerable to the insecurity and criminal activities in the region;










C.


whereas the region is strongly affected by the consequences of climate change and highly vulnerable to droughts, extreme weather, floods, land degradation and food insecurity; whereas climate risks primarily affect the most vulnerable populations and their livelihoods but also further feed into conflicts and have major economic impacts;










D.


whereas the problems in the Sahel and the Lake Chad region are of a cross-border nature and closely intertwined and therefore can only be resolved through a holistic regional strategy;










E.


whereas deteriorating security conditions pose a challenge to development cooperation and restrict humanitarian assistance, further increasing the vulnerability of the region;










F.


whereas instability has been exacerbated by the recent conflicts in the region, notably in Mali, Nigeria, Central African Republic and Libya; whereas the Libyan conflict, in particular, has had serious regional security implications; whereas the flow of returning fighters and illicit weapons coming from Libya has negatively affected the security situation in countries such as Mali, Chad and Niger and considerably aggravated the challenges that the region was already facing;










G.


whereas there can be no sustainable development without security; whereas these conflicts have direct and serious consequences for the security and well-being of citizens of neighbouring regions, including the EU, as they increasingly spill over in the form of terrorism and massive refugee flows;










H.


whereas weak governance and endemic corruption are hindering the development of an effective security sector and the fight against terrorists and criminal networks; whereas the region has become an increasingly important transit hub for drug- and arms-trafficking networks;










I.


whereas in 2011 the EU adopted its Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel, followed by the Sahel Regional Action Plan 2015-2020, both of which provide for a comprehensive approach to EU engagement with the countries of the region;










J.


whereas efforts have been made to increase the coordination of different policies and instruments at global, national and regional levels, but long-term, lasting results are still lacking; whereas the situation in the Sahel and the Lake Chad region requires pooling of resources and a more affirmative political commitment on the part of the international community, as well as the local governments;










K.


whereas several Sahel states have created the Sahel G5 in order to establish a beneficial forum for dialogue and coordination; whereas on 6 February 2017 the G5 summit decided to set up a joint military force in the Sahel; whereas the EU made a commitment to contribute EUR 50 million to this;










L.


whereas 42 million people are currently either severely or moderately food insecure, including 9,3 million who are in need of urgent food assistance; whereas these figures are expected to rise because of the ongoing conflicts and insecurity, with a total of 53 million people estimated to be food insecure by August 2017;










M.


whereas the EU is one of the largest contributors of humanitarian aid to the Sahel, having contributed EUR 299 million in 2016 to support people affected by severe food and nutrition insecurity;










N.


whereas French ‘Serval’ forces and AFISMA (the African-led International Support Mission to Mali), reinforced by Chadian forces and also Operation Barkhane and the presence of MINUSMA, as well as the efforts made as part of the joint multinational force, have helped to drive jihadist groups out of some regions of Mali and weakened Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region but have not completely defeated either group yet;










O.


whereas insecurity across the region has caused unprecedented levels of displacement, especially to neighbouring countries; whereas the Sahel has been both the departure point and a point on the migration route for the majority of migrants seeking to reach Europe;












1.


Considers it paramount to ensure coherence between security, defence, humanitarian and development cooperation policies while addressing the situation in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region; believes that enhancing political stability, security, good governance, social cohesion, economic and educational opportunities in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries is key to promoting sustainable development and wiping out terrorist and criminal networks in the Sahel;












2.


Strongly condemns all terrorist acts and human rights abuses in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, including those involving violence against civilian populations, notably women and children, kidnappings, killings, hostage-takings, pillaging and the destruction of civilian property; as well as terrorist attacks aimed at security forces;












3.


Recalls the strong link between development and 
security
, as poverty is often both the initial source and outcome of conflicts; points out that as long as instability prevails in Libya, the whole region will remain vulnerable; underlines that the terrorist threats will not be eradicated except through joint, concerted and coordinated action; calls on the EU and its Member States to actively promote and encourage coordination with the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS in engaging with other key players such as the Arab League, the UN, the USA and countries of the Maghreb;












4.


Encourages all partners to work together to develop a coherent, robust strategy for the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region aimed at improving governance and the accountability and legitimacy of state and regional institutions, boost security, and tackle radicalisation and the trafficking of people, arms and drugs; calls in this regard for the mandate of MINUSMA to be reviewed;












5.


Recalls the primary responsibilities of the governments of the region in stabilising the political, economic and security situations in their countries;












6.


Calls on the governments in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes of terrorism; reiterates, in this context, that a military approach alone will not suffice to counter insurgencies and terrorism;












7.


Draws particular attention to the challenges of good governance, state building, impunity and human rights in the region; insists that partnership with and among these countries should focus on the establishment of the rule of law and impartial institutions, in line with the commitment made by all partners under Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace and justice;












8.


Deems it necessary to tackle the root causes of instability and forced and irregular migration, namely poverty, the lack of economic opportunities, armed conflict, bad governance, climate change, human rights abuses, inequality and trade policies which do not address these challenges;












9.


Firmly believes that the private sector must also play an important role in development in the region and act within mandatory legal frameworks that define the business sector’s responsibilities on respect for human, social and environmental rights, including by ensuring transparent business conduct to guarantee that there is no private financing of armed groups;












10.


Insists on the importance of regional and interregional cooperation in the resolution of the security crisis in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, and in particular in the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, on which progress is regrettably slow; considers the engagement of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Maghreb countries essential to restoring stability in the region;












11.


Commends the political leadership of the Sahel G5 countries; calls for the EU to maintain a permanent dialogue at the highest level with the countries and organisations in the region and to further strengthen the EU-Sahel G5 partnership; welcomes the creation of the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)












12.


Welcomes the adoption of the EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel, the African Rapid Reaction Force and the Sahel Regional Action Plan 2015-2020 as concrete efforts for the effective implementation of a comprehensive EU approach, effectively mixing security, development and governance responses, including the eradication of extreme poverty;












13.


Believes that global development assistance to the region should be complemented by capacity-building action; reiterates its call for the creation of a new EU instrument dedicated to the development-security nexus in order to limit inconsistencies and increase the efficiency of the EU’s external action;












14.


Reaffirms that negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and West Africa could present the European Commission with a unique opportunity to establish inclusive sustainable growth and increase local added value, which could provide local jobs and help combat social exclusion;












15.


Stresses the valuable contribution made by CSDP missions to regional stability, notably in Mali (EUTM, EUCAP), Niger (EUCAP) and Somalia (EUTM), and calls for their regionalisation;












16.


Encourages the EU, the AU, and their Member States to support UN peacekeeping and to cooperate with the UN in strengthening the peacekeeping capacities of regional organisations; expresses its full support for the work of the UN Special Envoy for the Sahel, Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, in her efforts to prevent further destabilisation in the Sahel through the implementation of the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel;












17.


Recalls the interdependence of migration, security and development objectives; welcomes, in this regard, the establishment of the EU Trust Fund for Africa and its specific window for the Sahel and Lake Chad regions and notes the establishment of new partnership frameworks to deliver a more flexible, comprehensive response to fragility and instability in these countries; calls for the swift implementation of these frameworks in full respect of development effectiveness principles and urges all donors to deliver on their financial commitments;












18.


Expresses its deep concern about the alarming humanitarian situation in the region; calls on local governments, with the support of the EU and international partners, to take all the necessary measures to protect civilian populations and to address the root causes of food insecurity and under-nutrition; condemns all obstruction to the delivery of humanitarian and food aid and calls on all actors to ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law under all circumstances;












19.


Considers that EU development policies should focus on rural development and agriculture in particular, in order to ensure food security as a contribution to durable socio-economic development in sub-Saharan Africa; highlights the fact that climate change, which is affecting the Sahel and Lake Chad region in a particularly serious fashion, necessitates the use of highly adapted agricultural practices that favour resilience to extreme climate phenomena;












20.


Insists on the need to improve the resilience of the countries concerned with a clear focus on the most vulnerable households and communities, including women and children; underlines the fact that improving access of local populations to basic services (including health, education and social services) is fundamental and should remain central to EU budget support;












21.


Expresses its support for the global and regional initiatives undertaken in the fight against terrorism and transnational organised crime, including criminal networks involved in the smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings, drugs and arms;












22.


Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission, the Secretary General of the United Nations and the President of the General Assembly, the African Union, the ACP-EU Council, the presidents, prime ministers and parliaments of the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries and to ECOWAS.






DECLARATION (1)

on climate change
The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly underlines that climate change is a global phenomenon, which will without doubt continue to have a dramatic impact on our environment, affecting all countries. The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly reaffirms its total commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and calls on the global community to sustain the momentum for ambitious action.
The Assembly reaffirms its unequivocal support for the Agreement reached at COP 21 in Paris in 2015. The Assembly therefore profoundly regrets the decision by the current US Administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This decision has been met with astonishment, disappointment and an outcry from the international community, which has expressed its continued solidarity and ongoing commitment to implementing all of the constituent elements of the Paris Agreement. Noting with satisfaction that the business community and certain States in the USA have, on the whole, reaffirmed their commitment to address the effects of climate change, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly calls on the Government of the United States to review its position and re-commit itself to the Paris Agreement. The Assembly invites the EU and the ACP States to begin collaborating henceforth on the implementation of the COP 21 objectives with the US parties who wish to do so.
The Assembly emphasises that concerted global action is necessary to combat greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the negative impacts of climate change. Delivering on the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement is paramount.
The Assembly stresses that a key objective of the forthcoming UN climate conference in November of this year (COP 23) should be to maintain momentum and cohesiveness in relation to the commitment to implement the Paris Agreement and, in particular, to address the challenges faced by the most vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and landlocked and coastal countries.
The Assembly therefore urges all parties and stakeholders to move forward with the economy-wide low-carbon transition measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that all nations are provided with the support they need for implementation, so that no one is left behind.
The Assembly commends Fiji, the incoming President of the 23rd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), for the preparations it has made so far, and for the leadership it is providing to ensure the success of the conference.
The Assembly stresses the need to finalise the Paris Agreement work programme by 2018, which is an indicator of how countries intend to implement the Paris Agreement and accelerate climate actions at national level, thereby contributing to the global goal. The Assembly calls for work on adaptation and access to finance, which are particularly essential for the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and which have special needs as well as low capacities, to be accelerated.



(1)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 June 2017 in St Julian’s (Malta).

(2)  OJ C 296 E, 2.10.2012, p. 46.

(3)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 June 2017 in St Julian’s (Malta)

(4)  OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.

(5)  OJ L 287, 4.11.2010, p. 3.

(6)  OJ C 279 E, 19.11.2009, p. 100.

(7)  OJ C 33 E, 5.2.2013, p. 38.

(8)  OJ C 131 E, 8.5.2013, p. 80.

(9)  OJ C 468 R, 15.12.2016, p. 73.

(10)  OJ C 353, 27.9.2016, p. 2.

(11)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0137.

(12)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0224.

(13)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0246.

(14)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0437.

(15)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0026.

(16)  http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E

(17)  http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/AAAA_Outcome.pdf

(18)  http://www.oecd.org/dac/effectiveness/34428351.pdf

(19)  http://www.oecd.org/dac/effectiveness/49650173.pdf

(20)  http://www.oecd.org/dac/gender-development/45250308.pdf

(21)  https://www.pbsbdialogue.org/media/filer_public/07/69/07692de0-3557-494e-918e-18df00e9ef73/the_new_deal.pdf

(22)  http://effectivecooperation.org/events/2016-high-level-meeting/

(23)  http://effectivecooperation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/4314021e.pdf

(24)  http://www.acp.int/sites/acpsec.waw.be/files/ACP81026%2015%20Rev.7%20ACP%20Group%20final%20position%20FFD3.pdf

(25)  OJ C 46, 24.2.2006, p. 1.

(26)  COM(2016)0740.

(27)  http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%209558%202007%20INIT

(28)  Council document 18239/10.

(29)  http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9241-2015-INIT/en/pdf

(30)  http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8831-2016-INIT/en/pdf

(31)  http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8822-2016-INIT/en/pdf

(32)  Council document 10715/16.

(33)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 June 2017 in St Julian’s (Malta).

(34)  OJ L 287, 4.11.2010, p. 3.

(35)  OJ C 68 E, 18.3.2004, p. 605.

(36)  OJ C 104 E, 30.4.2004, p. 1067.

(37)  OJ C 282 E, 6.11.2008, p. 131.

(38)  OJ C 271 E, 12.11.2009, p. 51.

(39)  OJ C 76 E, 25.3.2010, p. 16.

(40)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0012.

(41)  OJ C 169 E, 15.6.2012, p. 138.

(42)  OJ C 326, 3.12.2010, p. 5.

(43)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 June 2017 in St Julian’s (Malta).

(1)  Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 21 June 2017 in St Julian’s (Malta).