Brussels, 13/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - From Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 May, Budapest will host the 21st Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), the political gathering that takes place every six months and is attended by parliamentarians of 78 ACP (African/Caribbean/Pacific) states and 78 MEPs. Jointly chaired by MEP Louis Michel (ALDE, Belgium) and David Matongo from the Zambian National Assembly, it will open this year to the backdrop of difficult recovery after the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire and the Arab spring with its uncertain future - two highly topical political situations that are the source of both concern and shared hopes. Such subjects will provide the JPA with an opportunity of discussion with a view to adopting so-called “emergency” resolutions. Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner who has just returned from his first official visit to Sudan and South Sudan (13-15 May), will have the opportunity to report to the assembly on this.
In addition to the situation in Côte d'Ivoire and the impact of the Arab sSpring on ACP countries, Europe and the world, the ACP representatives and their partners from the European Parliament will discuss challenges to be raised by democracy (joint rapporteurs: Olle Schmidt, ALDE, Sweden, and François Ibovi, Republic of Congo), budgetary support provided under development aid (co-rapporteurs: Enrique Guerrero Salom, S&D, Spain, and Mohamed Abdallahi Ould Guelaye, Mauritania), and water pollution (joint rapporteurs: Christa Klass, EPP, Germany, and Bobbo Hamatoukour, Cameroon). The impact of EU Common Agricultural Policy on ACP countries will also be discussed without, however, being the subject of a resolution. During the traditional exchange of views with the European Commission and the presidencies of the EU Council and ACP Council, parliamentarians will have an opportunity to raise all questions they wish to raise of interest to cooperation between the EU and ACP countries under the Cotonou agreement between the two parties.
The JPA, a joint institution of the ACP/EU partnership, will have the mission of promoting the democratic processes through dialogue and consultation, of allowing greater understanding between the people of the EU and of ACP states, and of examining matters relating to ACP-EU partnership and development. (A.N./transl.jl).