Rúin ó Pharlaimint na hEorpa

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Norbert Neuser on the future of ACP-EU relations beyond 2020 on 4 October 2016

In a legislative resolution of 17 January 2002, the European Parliament gave its assent to the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States on the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, on the other.

The European Parliament adopted by 489 votes to 146, with 37 abstentions, a resolution on the future of ACP-EU relations beyond 2020.

Recalling the strength and acquis of the Cotonou Agreement, Members affirmed that ACP-EU cooperation is a valuable and unique achievement.

Parliament stated that the following must be placed at the centre of a new agreement:

• the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and respect for internationally agreed aid effectiveness principles;
• fight against, and ultimate eradication of, poverty and inequalities;
• human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law.

A new agreement must primarily be a political project based on the principle of ownership and clearly leave behind the donor-recipient mentality. Cooperation should take place in areas of common interest where mutual gains can be expected, also with regard to peace and security, human rights and the rule of law, good governance and democracy, migration, the environment, climate change.

The European Parliament adopted by 575 votes to 64, with 43 abstentions, a resolution on the work of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Parliament recalled the unique status of the ACP-EU JPA since it was the only multilateral interparliamentary assembly set up under an international agreement, the Cotonou Agreement.

The JPA has developed into a genuine parliamentary assembly, offering a forum for the open and frank discussion of issues which are central to development cooperation.

Issues addressed by Parliament's resolution include:

• open dialogue,
• added value of JPA,
• role of national parliaments,
• civil society,
• deteriorating situation in certain countries of the ACP,
• towards a more parliamentary JPA,
• criminalisation of homosexuality,
• principle of non-negotiable human rights clauses,
• policy coherence for development (PCD).

Parliament invited the EU-ACP JPA to develop a common approach in defining the future development framework after 2015.

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement amending for the second time 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, as first amended in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005.

The European Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement but it expresses its strongest reservations about parts of the Agreement which do not reflect the position of the European Parliament and the values of the Union.

Parliament urges all parties to revise the unsatisfactory clauses accordingly during a third revision of the Agreement and to include an explicit mention of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation within Article 8(4) (non-discrimination clause in policy dialogue) of the Agreement.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by José RIBEIRO e CASTRO (EPP-ED, PT) and gave its assent to the conclusion of the Agreement amending the Partnership Agreement between the ACP States and the EC, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000.