At the 33rd session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Malta (St Julian's) on Wednesday 21 June, MEPs and their counterparts from the 78 ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) countries, which are linked to the EU by the Cotonou Agreement, showed total solidarity on security in the Sahel region and the fight against climate change. However, when it comes to the attitude to be adopted to the human rights situation in Burundi, division prevails – to the extent that no solution could be adopted, much to the regret of the European side.
Irreconcilable positions on Burundi. The seriousness of the political, social and security situation in the country was initially due to be the subject of an emergency resolution, but after several votes in a secret ballot on an ACP compromise text and an EU text, MEPs and the ACP delegation had to note that their positions were irreconcilable. The negotiations were broken off mainly due to Burundi's opposition – a position with which the ACP countries showed solidarity. The draft compromise resolution proposed by the EU (which eight ACP countries were able to back) was considered unacceptable by Burundi. Giving assurances that its human rights situation would improve, Burundi wanted to ask the JPA delegation to send a mission there before voting on any resolution. This was unacceptable for the European delegation. The European compromise strongly condemned the acts of violence, murders and other human rights violations since 2015, as well as the high risk of the current situation creating deeper divisions between the different ethnicities and leading to ethnic conflict. The European delegation was also alarmed at the fact that Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza does not rule out the possibility of amending the country's constitution in order to stand for a fourth mandate from 2020.
Unwavering support for Paris Climate Agreement. In a joint statement, the JPA reiterates its unwavering support for the Paris Climate Agreement. Deeply regretting the decision of the US Trump Administration to withdraw from this agreement, the JPA launches a call to the US government to do a U-turn on its position, and it asks the EU countries and ACP group to work with the US actors that want to cooperate on achieving the COP 21 goals. The JPA commends Fiji for its preparations as Chair of the COP 23 (Bonn, 6-17 November) and underlines that this COP should address the challenges faced by the most vulnerable countries, particularly the small island developing states, less developed countries, landlocked countries and coastal countries. The JPA also calls for work to be accelerated on adaptation and access to financing – essential issues for the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change.
Tackling the root causes of insecurity in the Sahel. In an emergency resolution on the security situation in the Sahel-Sahara region, the MEPs and ACP underline that only collective action based on a robust strategy will enable decisive counter-terrorism results. They call for the deep-rooted causes of poverty, bad governance, corruption and armed conflicts to be fought as these feed terrorism, famine and instability. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)