Brussels, 28/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - How to respond to the Ebola epidemic that is devastating West Africa and the rise of terrorism in Africa are the two burning issues on the agenda of the 28th Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), to be held in Strasbourg form 1 to 3 December. Meeting every six months, the JPA brings together almost 200 MPs in equal numbers from Europe and from the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries. The meeting in Strasbourg will be chaired jointly by MEP Louis Michel (ALDE, Belgium) and Fitz A. Jackson from Jamaica.
On each of the matters of major concern, the JPA will adopt an emergency resolution.
The JPA will also adopt resolutions on: - the challenge of national reconciliation in post-conflict and post-crisis countries (report drafted by the political affairs committee); - the social and economic consequences of malnutrition in ACP countries (social affairs and environment committee); - the private sector development strategy, including innovation, for sustainable development (economic development, finance and trade committee).
The parliamentarians will have the opportunity to debate with new European International Cooperation and Development Commissioner Neven Mimica and the presidents in office of the ACP Council of Ministers and the Council of the EU on matters of joint interest within the EU-ACP cooperation framework under the Cotonou Agreement which links the two parties.
The main debate on the agenda, on Yes! Africa can live up to its ambitions, will focus on the potential of a continent with highly promising growth rates and massive human and natural resources. Also up for debate are: the specific challenges and needs of small island developing states, the threats hanging over the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, migration and private sector development.
The role of the JPA, a joint institution of the ACP-EU partnership, is to promote democratic processes through dialogue and cooperation, to bring greater understanding between the peoples of the EU and of the ACP states and to examine development and ACP-EU partnership issues. (AN)