Carlos Zorrinho (S&D, PT) Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly said: “We are all convinced that the only way to manage migration within a legal framework is to ensure job creation, growth, peace and stability. We must also invest in education and in small businesses”.

Michel Kamano, Acting ACP Co-President said: “I believe strongly that parliamentarians can champion multilateral work, as they bring the views of the people to the table and ensure they reflect the people’s perspective in the global debate. It is therefore with firm conviction that I call on each of you to defend and promote the commitment to multilateralism.”

During the 38th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), which took place from 17 to 21 November in Kigali (Rwanda), Members of the European Parliament and their counterparts from 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries debated and adopted several resolutions.

COP25

On the COP25, the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Madrid in December, the JPA supports the new Commission’s proposal to launch a “Green New Deal”. It also supports the European Parliament’s proposal to increase the share of EU external action funding dedicated to climate action.

Sustainable growth and migration

The ACP-EU Assembly stressed the need to create jobs, particularly for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 18 million additional jobs are needed each year. Support measures, including from the EU, could be useful. Fair conditions in trade agreements and aid for trade also play a crucial role.

Post Cotonou

The Cotonou agreement expires in February 2020. It is therefore vital that the ACP-EU JPA strengthens its institutional role to uphold the parliamentary dimension of the future ACP-EU agreement.