EPP-ED Group:

Kigali - Rwanda, 17-22 November 2007

14. ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Rwanda

14th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Michael Gahler MEP (EPP-ED, Germany), First Vice-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Astrid Lulling MEP (EPP-ED, Luxembourg) and delegates of the meeting

The ACP-EU (African Caribbean Pacific-European Union) Joint Parliamentary Assembly took place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 17 to 22 November. It is the only international assembly in which the representatives of various countries sit together regularly with the aim of promoting the interdependence of North and South.

Representatives of 78 ACP states meet their 78 European Parliament counterparts (MEPs) in plenary session for one week twice a year. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly meets alternately in an ACP country and an EU country. The institution is governed by common, democratic rules.

14th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Delegates of the meeting

Among the reports for vote at this assembly included a report co-authored by Astrid Lulling MEP (Luxembourg) MEP and Timothy Harris (St Kitts & Nevis) on the impact of foreign direct investment in ACP states, and a report co-authored by John Bowis MEP (United Kingdom) and Martin Magga (Solomon Islands), on access to healthcare and medicines, with particular focus on neglected diseases.

Other topics for debate included the EU-Africa Strategy, the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December, and developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.

Press Releases

21/11/2007	Consensus on 'Kigali Declaration' on new trade agreements. Michael Gahler MEP
20/11/2007	Rwanda's Gacaca Courts are important for reconciliation. Gay Mitchell MEP
20/11/2007	Developing countries and European Parliament call to focus on neglected diseases. John Bowis MEP
20/11/2007	China investments harm Africa. Astrid Lulling MEP

Programme

Related videos

	ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Rwanda
	China accused of neocolonialism in Africa China stood accused of neocolonialism in Africa as Luxembourg member of the European Parliament Astrid Lulling talked to EUX.TV, The Europe Channel.
	Gay Mitchell MEP on post-Genocide Rwanda Gay Mitchell, Irish member of the European Parliament for the EPP-ED group, speaks about reconciliation in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.
	Congo should integrate Nkunda forces to end crisis, MEP Jürgen Schröder says The European Union should follow the recommendation from the International Crisis Group and encourage the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to integrate the forces of dissident general Laurent Nkunda into its army, letting them stay in North Kivu. This would be an important step towards easing the crisis and fighting that has led more than 400.000 people to flee their homes in recent months.
	Nirj Deva MEP about the ACP-EU Assembly meetings British conservative MEP Nirj Deva (EPP-ED) explains the background to talks at the meetings of members of parliaments from Africa, the Carribean, the Pacific and the European Union.
	Maria Martens over relatie tussen Afrika en Europa Maria Martens, lid van het Europees Parlement voor het CDA - EVP-ED, spreekt op de ACP-EU top in Kigali, Rwanda over de relaties tussen Afrika en Europa.