Serious
talk! EU Member of Parliament Ana Gomes, known for publicly criticising
Ethiopia following the 2005 government crackdown, which claimed over
200 lives, in a seemingly serious discussion during lunch break with
Ethiopian MP and Speaker of the House Abadulla Gemeda in Addis Ababa,
November 25, 2013. ANDUALEM SISAY | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The
26th European Union (EU) and African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Joint
Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday
morning.
The assembly is expected to debate several issues,
ranging from use of natural resources to fiscal reform and
redistribution of wealth and decentralised cooperation.
The
gathering is also expected to discuss respect for the rule of law and
the role of an impartial and independent judiciary and South-South and
triangular cooperation.
The assembly that will be concluded on Wednesday, has no decision-making powers.
However,
it allows elected representatives of ACP countries to address their
concerns directly to the EU Commission and be updated on the
negotiations on trade deal, such as the Cotonou Agreement.
“There
is an ample room for more enhanced partnership in many areas of interest
to both sides,” said Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn,
while opening the assembly.
“But in a large sense, this
relationship should not in any way be based on the rather obsolete
assumption that one side is the ultimate provider and the other
perennial receiver of resources whatever the object of the relationship
might be – economic or political.”
JPA comprises 78 members of parliament and 12 vice-presidents from both sides (EU and ACP).
The
assembly is expected to be concluded after discussing social and
environmental impacts of pastoralism on ACP countries on the last day.
JPA
meets twice a year, once in the EU, traditionally in the country
holding the presidency of the Council of the EU and once in an ACP
country, determined by the group of ACP countries.
Source: AFRICA REVIEW
