OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Plenary Sessions

Flags of the ACP member states in front of a meeting room in the European Parliament in Brussels. On the side a banner which reads
© European Union (2015) - European Parliament

39th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The JPA’s 39th Session was held remotely and in a reduced format on 3 and 10 December 2020.

The main points of the meeting Thursday 3 December were:


President's announcements

Co-Preseident Zorrinho reported on the most recent state of play of the negotiations for a Post-Cotonou Agreement, whose final stage was ongoing in parallel to the meeting. He stressed Parliament's position that the new treaty should reinforce and strengthen the parliamentary dimension.


Vote on the three committee reports

Remote vote on the three draft committee reports:

· Democracy and the respect for constitutions in EU and ACP countries (Committee on Political Affairs);

· Diversification of ACP economies: challenges and opportunities (Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade);

· Reducing the number of unemployed youth in ACP and EU countries (Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment);

and vote on a joint draft committee report:

· on the consequences of COVID-19 on ACP and EU countries (joint report by the three committees)


Exchange of views on the three new draft committee reports:

· Draft report on the role parliaments can play in strengthening international security (Committee on Political Affairs)

A lack of parliamentary involvement in international security issues was flagged as a lack of democracy. National parliaments are essential for a comprehensive approach to security. They can strike a balance between military and humanitarian, civilian issues.

· Draft report on creating efficient sovereign wealth funds in ACP countries to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and industrialisation (Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade).

The creation of such funds was seen as an important step by national governments to become more resilient during crises and less dependent on foreign investment. These funds' financial resources could also be used for long-term investments such as education and infrastructure.

· Draft report on the social consequences and the impact on health and the environment of the European dairy policy on local milk production in Africa (Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment).

Subsidised EU dairy exports harm the local milk production in western Africa, which leads to job losses. They are also of poor nutritional quality and are inadequately labelled.


The meeting was webstreamed here.


The main points of the meeting Thursday 10 December were:


President's announcements

Co-President Zorrinho announced the outcome of the votes on the three final committee reports and the joint committee report. All four reports were adopted by a substantial majority.


Statement by Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen followed by a debate

The Commissioner stressed the importance of the EU-ACP partnership in difficult and challenging times, stating that it will help to establish sustainable global recovery. The new Post-Cotonou Agreement should be seen as a new chapter in the relations between the four partner regions. She stated that:

· it would be a new partnership based on shared values and goals;

· it would be a political driving force throughout the world in a multilateral system under pressure. Together the ACP and EU countries hold more than half the seats in the United Nations, allowing for strategic and effective joint action (as they already did in support of the Paris Climate Agreement);

· a strong parliamentary dimension will remain a key factor in the Post-Cotonou Agreement.

During the debate, all Members underlined the importance of a strong parliamentary dimension and thanked the Commissioner for her clear supportive and positive statement.


Statements by the two Council representatives followed by a debate

The President-in-Office of the EU Council, German Minister for Development Gerd Müller, highlighted the importance of preserving the EU-ACP JPA in the Post-Cotonou Agreement. COVID-19 represents a global challenge to health and the economy causing poverty and hunger. The future vaccine must be available and accessible to all. He declared fair trade, fair delivery chains and tackling poorest countries' debt difficulties as key factors for a global recovery plan.

The President-in-Office of the OACPS Council of Ministers, Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof. Palamagamba John Aidan Kabudi, elaborated on the important role of the ACP-EU JPA in the EU-ACP framework. Its work needs to be continued in the new Post-Cotonou Agreement. He called for the new Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) to become operational as soon as possible under the new agreement.

During the debate, Members expressed their hope that the Post-Cotonou Agreement will help promote sustainable development and protecting human rights. The three main challenges, the post COVID-19 period, climate change and the fight against poverty, need to be tackled. The EU-ACP partnership should be reinvented, based on an equal footing and mutual respect.


The meeting was webstreamed here.