Brussels, 12/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On 15-17 June, the small Pacific island state of Suva (Fidji) will host the 29th Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) - the political arena bringing together parliamentarians from the 79 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) states and 79 MEPs.
The JPA will be chaired both by Louis Michel MEP (ALDE, Belgium) and David Matongo (from the national assembly of Zambia), and it seems only natural that the earthquake which ravaged Vanuatu has been listed as the main item of concern for this JPA. The path to be followed in the aftermath of this disaster in Vanuatu and in its neighbouring countries will be the subject of an urgent resolution. The second item on the agenda for debate and an urgent resolution is the Central African Republic (CAR).
The seas and oceans will also be the subject of a debate (without a resolution) - which will be attended by President of Kiribati Anote Tong.
The JPA will also debate three reports drawn up by its standing committees, and will adopt resolutions on: - the challenges and opportunities in education and vocational training in ACP countries; - the financing of investment and trade, including infrastructure, in ACP countries by the EU blending mechanism;- and cultural diversity and human rights in ACP countries.
The ACP parliamentarians and MEPs will also hold an exchange of views on natural resources and how to improve the internal revenue generation capabilities of ACP states.
As usual, question and answer sessions are planned with European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica, Latvia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkevics, and acting President of the ACP Council of Ministers Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu. The parliamentarians will also have the opportunity to tackle any issue affecting development cooperation between the EU and ACP, and the next international gatherings that will be decisive for development - such as the conference on financing development (Addis Ababa, 13-16 July), the UN General Assembly in September at which the world programme for post-2015 sustainable development and eradicating poverty will be decided, the climate conference in Paris (COP 21, 30 November-11 December), and the 10th WTO ministerial conference hosted for the first time by an ACP country (Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 December). (Aminata Niang)