STATEMENT TO THE INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE 10TH ACP-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY BY THE ACP CO-PRESIDENT MRS. SHARON HAY- WEBSTER

EDINBURGH 21 NOVEMBER, 2005

Your Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester Honorable Members of Government The Right Honorable George Reid, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament Lady Glenys Kinnock, EU Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Colleague Parliamentarians Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

1 So often have we heard of the majestic beauty of , that despite the other feature for which this city is renown, its early wintry chill, my ACP Colleagues and I have long looked forward to being here. Though the beauty remains unquestionable, that chill has been diminished by the warmth of the reception lavished on us. And might I add that it was not only the warmth of intellectual stimulation which we enjoyed yesterday at the Whisky-on-the-rocks reception at Our Dynamic Earth. On behalf of the ACP Members of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, I am therefore very pleased to express to the of the City of Edinburgh, the Right Honorable Lesley Hinds, our sincere appreciation of the warm hospitality we have enjoyed since our arrival here.

I would also like to thank you, Your Worship , the Mayor of Edinburgh, for your kind words of welcome. Through you, Sir, let me also express our gratitude to the distinguished members of your team. We appreciate your dedicated efforts to ensure that we are all provided with the excellent facilities which are essential to the successful outcome for this Assembly.

Your Royal Highness, Madame Co-President

We meet here at a time when the global community faces numerous challenges, when Parliamentarians no longer have the luxury of dwelling only on parochial and national concerns. The reality of the global village brings the imperatives for and the threats to peace, security and development to our very doorstep. Our Joint Parliamentary Assembly is just one part of the global search for durable solutions. In a partnership centred on human dignity and mutual respect, Parliamentarians representing 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the 25 EU member states focus our combined expertise and energies on that search.

We come not merely as leaders in our own right, but as elected representatives of the peoples whom we are called to serve. Our objective cannot be the expansion of personal prestige and power, but, through shared experience of best practice, to contribute to enhancing the welfare of our peoples, especially of the most vulnerable. Indeed, the essence of our work is all about people; it is about putting our personal baggage aside and coming to the dialogue table with an open mind and a hunger for equity and justice; for peaceful, negotiated solutions to the problems we confront.

So we come to , not with a clean slate, but with an agenda already crowded with critical issues which demand our attention and appropriate action.

Natural Disasters and Climate Change

It is here that we shall review the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment, on the causes and consequences of natural disasters. This is a timely debate which I hope will encourage us to take the lead, at our respective national levels, to secure a more pro-active response to climate change and to promote action for mitigating the impact of natural disasters. When we recall how many ACP states, as well as several

2 from Europe, have suffered from various forms of natural disasters over the last year alone; when we remember the dreadful calamities of the Tsunami and the earthquakes in Asia, the hurricanes in the US, the famine in several African states; in the face of dire warnings of increasingly intense and frequent natural disasters, we dare not ignore the call to action.

The Report that over 80% of the planet's ecosystems are degraded or used unsustainably is indeed chilling. The projections are at best intimidating, and may I say, pose a serious threat to the very basic fibre of our political democracies.

Here in this bonny site in the , it is fitting to reflect on the UK Presidency’s role at the next UN Climate Change negotiations in December this year. Theirs will be the important task of helping to develop a post 2012 strategy to foster, inter alia, closer international engagement with the growing economies of China and India. As Parliamentarians, I am glad to say that we had the foresight to invest our efforts in the timely formulation of a joint Declaration on Climate Change and the Impact of Natural Disasters. We hope that the UK Presidency will take on board the positions which we shall formally adopt at this session.

It is against this background that we highlight and welcome the newly created ACP-EU Natural Disaster Facility. Though launched with an initial, small capital of EUR 12 million to be disbursed for enhancing disaster preparedness and early warning systems in ACP countries, we expect that it will be much better funded and enabled to respond to the priorities for which it was created. I urge you, Colleague Parliamentarians of the ACP and the EU, to continue to be vigilant in support of this Facility. Our attention and vigilance are necessary if our policy makers are to be successful both in the pre-disaster and the post-catastrophic rehabilitation and reconstruction of our affected states.

The role of National Parliaments in the implementation of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement

The relevance of the Parliamentary debate on the role of national parliaments in the implementation of the Cotonou Partnership is self evident. I encourage and expect active participation in this discussion which will have the added advantage of improving our interaction and political dialogue with the civil society and the economic and social partners in our respective states. For the ACP parliamentarians, these discussions will further strengthen our on-going efforts to achieve excellence at the level of the ACP Parliamentary Consultative Assembly.

Political and economic issues

3 Another important concern on this session’s agenda is the political situation in West Africa, in particular in Guinea Bissau, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Mauritania. Though these are the conflict situations on which we shall focus at this session, we cannot forget the continuing internal and cross border conflicts among several other ACP states. This is why the ACP Consultative Assembly accepted my proposal to create a permanent working group to strengthen our capacity to perform our conflict mitigation role, in keeping with our Charter. Peace and security are the cornerstones of people-centred development. It is my hope that our dialogue will contribute to the efforts to promote peace, security and stability in these affected countries and regions.

An item of great importance, the Report on Agricultural and Mining commodities, has justifiably received the attention of the Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade. The strategic importance of the future of our minerals and our agricultural commodities, is unquestionable. For this reason we wish to encourage the European Commission and the Joint Council of Ministers to pursue bilateral and multilateral initiatives to ensure price stability and fair prices for these key primary products which are fundamental to the economic prospects of our countries.

As we monitor the negotiations for the regional economic partnership agreements, we reiterate our concern that they indeed be development centred and that the policy be coherently demonstrated across all pertinent areas of the European Commission. In this context, I look forward, with keen interest, to receiving the European Commission’s update on the current mid-term review of the regional cooperation process in our ACP regions, and to engage actively in the discussion of its impact on the EPA negotiation process.

Madame Co-President,

It is extremely important that we consistently remind ourselves that the Cotonou Partnership Agreement is a binding contract between the countries we represent. It binds us as partners in the JPA, both at parliamentary and multiparty levels to centre our collaboration on the eradication of poverty. The spirit of our exemplary partnership is people centred. I make this observation in light of the ongoing debates on reforms which impact on the ACP/EU Commodity Protocols under the Partnership Agreement. The manner in which the agreements on our commodities is being handled is strikingly different from the spirit which motivated their adoption. Then what was uppermost was the principle of promoting development through fair trade which recognised the vulnerabilities and constraints of the ACP economies. These Protocols are evidence of the EU’s commitment to special and differential treatment for developing countries long before other developed countries recognised this as an essential component in fair trade. Today, even as the Doha Development Round is teetering on the brink of failure at Hong Kong and in the aftermath of global recommitment to the Millennium Development Goals, the principle which drives the EC reforms is not development through fair trade, but compliance with the WTO. As it now stands, the free trade espoused by the WTO, is

4 not necessarily fair trade. ACP economies which benefit from their commodity exports to the EU markets know that especially now, in respect of their cotton, sugar and banana industries.

My ACP Colleagues and I are very pleased that our European partners in the JPA share our concerns and have even lobbied intensively on our behalf. But the struggle is far from over. The European Union must internalise our message that this is all about people. Their policy decisions with regard to ACP commodity trade impact on the very chance of survival of hundreds of thousands of small farmers and rural communities. They impact on the social and political stability of countries which under colonialism fuelled the industrial revolution in Europe and even today, contribute to the wealth of this continent. With regard to the sugar reform proposal, I urge all present today, to continue to work to convince EU Member States and the European Commission, to provide the ACP countries with a realistic adjustment period and with adequate and timely financial support for enhancing competitive production and for diversification as necessary. I also urge my European partners to continue to press the EC to provide the committed support to the ACP cotton producing countries. Yet another ACP commodity is under the guillotine even as we speak. The new EC banana regime to be implemented as of 1 January, 2006, in compliance with WTO commitments, will likely see substantial reduction or termination of the ACP banana trade before any projected EPA-related benefit can come into being.

Coupled with all these challenges to the ACP market access, is the impact which the REACH legislation being contemplated in the EU could have on our exports to the EU markets. We endorse the right of every Government to take the measures necessary to protect the health of their people. Yet we cannot accept that such measures become new non-tariff barriers to trade. We call on the European Parliament in its second reading of the proposed legislation to be alert to this concern and strive for the best way to respond to our justifiable concerns about the possible limitation of our access to the EU market. We urge that treatment of the unresolved issue of authorization be not detrimental to ACP countries which rely heavily on revenue from the export of minerals, ore and concentrates to the EU markets.

Madame Co-President,

These trade issues preoccupy the ACP countries even as we prepare for the Hong Kong Ministerial Session of the Doha Development Round. Unless the WTO can deliver on the objectives of this development round, we fear that the EC will be participating in the marginalization of ACP states from global trade and in the deepening of their poverty. Therefore our Assembly should do all in its power to contribute to a process that will secure a favorable outcome for the Doha Development Agenda. We look forward to our discussions with Commissioner Peter Mandelson and expect that the EC will support the development objectives of its ACP partners in Hong Kong. We remain confident that the special interests of the vulnerable Small-island Developing States, landlocked ACP states and the Least Developed Countries will be reflected in the EC’s remit for this round. Progress on these issues will pave the way for a successful conclusion of the round and

5 therefore, an agreement that delivers fair trade with improved access to markets for developing countries.

Development Issues for Consideration

We Parliamentarians wholeheartedly reaffirm our support for the eight Millennium Development Goals. While the recent UN Summit achieved less than what had been expected, it nonetheless served to recommit the international community to these goals and to sound the alert for redoubled efforts if many developing states are to achieve the minimum targets for Poverty Reduction, Education, Health and Environmental Protection. ACP Parliamentarians welcome the EU’s commitment to reach the ODA target of 0.7% of their GNPs by 2015 and to implement their improved policy for donor coherence and a more effective delivery of aid.

We also welcome the subsequent EC decision to update and improve its development policy and approach vis-à-vis the ACP. We recognize the need for greater coherence and better coordination of the separate development support programmes and policies of the twenty five Member States and the European Commission. We note that the EC also seeks to centre policy formulation and development support programmes on regions, with a view to region-specific response and to strengthen integration. Thus, the Commission’s communication in respect of its development approach to Africa has been issued and we understand that communications in respect of the Caribbean and the Pacific are being formulated.

Let me stress the need for transparent consultations with the ACP states and regions on these policy documents, so that our interests and priorities are properly reflected and the Cotonou undertakings respected. It is essential that the regionalization policy underlying this approach, including in respect of the Economic Partnership Agreements, be not unwittingly the cause for the demise of the ACP. These are matters which demand the vigilance of the JPA.

Even as we celebrate the action being taken to accelerate the development of the least developed countries, we must voice our concern that the few ACP countries defined as middle-income developing countries be not left behind. Most of these countries, including my own, are economically vulnerable, with severe debt burdens and social sectors which are under extreme pressure. Yet most are excluded from direct EU member states’ development assistance. The continued and improved support from the EC for these states is therefore essential. To this end, I hope that I can count on the support of the JPA in the various decision making arenas.

I cannot fail to recall that it was here in Scotland that the G8 countries under the British Presidency, adopted their decision on debt forgiveness for a number of developing countries largely from the ACP. We commend the UK for this bold initiative, but urge them to ensure that the name of Gleneagles be not associated with unfulfilled or long delayed fulfillment of declared pledges to the support of developing countries.

6 While I formally recognize the efforts of the British EU Presidency to support our ACP and national objectives for sustainable development, I am aware that a heavy burden rests on their shoulders in the remaining weeks of their Presidency. Among the various important issues yet unresolved are several which are of key concern to the ACP. It should come as no surprise that the ACP Parliamentarians are deeply worried about this situation, in light of information we have received that in the subsequent six months no Development Council meeting will be convened. The ACP believes this to be a most unfortunate message on the maintenance of the EU’s commitment to development.

Madame Co-President, your ACP Colleagues urge all our EP partners to do everything in their power to facilitate the adoption of the Financial Perspectives and provide therein the resources for the ACP action plan for sugar and for the commitments of the EU derived from its own initiatives for the revision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. We also call for early agreement for adequate resources for the 10th EDF.

In these remaining years of the 10th EDF, ACP Parliamentarians urge our Governments and their National Authorizing Officers to enhance their project implementation, so that our peoples will reap the maximum benefits from EC development support. At the same time, we call on the EC to ensure the efficacy of its delivery machinery. We would also urge the EC to ensure that the objectives of the Water Facility and the recently created Energy Facility are attained. As the JPA proceeds with its study on energy, we need to be alert to the developments in respect of this Facility which we expect to assist ACP states not only in being energy efficient, but also to boost their production and utilization of new and renewable sources of energy, including the production of ethanol.

EU Migration Policy:

We have all noted the UK Presidency’s initiatives on economic reform, social justice, global security, stability and Europe’s role in the world. The UK Presidency has placed priority on social justice which has led to a greater focus on migration and the crime of people trafficking. Its dedication to develop an action plan to address people trafficking, and a more efficient EU police cooperation should not end there. The recent tragic suffering of illegal migrants from West African should not be repeated.

ACP Parliamentarians have been consistently arguing that managing migration issues, requires much more than simply strengthening the EU’s borders. A “Fortress Europe” approach is not coterminous with respect for human rights and human dignity. Much greater attention is required to address the ‘push factors’ at the grass roots levels in ACP states. Nor should Europe’s migration policy serve to perpetuate our brain drain. It is my hope that this distinguished Parliamentary Assembly will continue its work in this field and so drive the improvement in both ACP and EU migration policies, in the context of a coherent development policy.

7

Madame Co-President,

The December 2005 European Council of Ministers is expected to endorse the European Commission’s strategy for new targets for Official Development Assistance. I am sure that all Parliamentarians welcome the initiatives and will continue to support those designed to help: • Reduce inequalities; • Increase social cohesion in an environment of large scale migration and rapid urbanization; • Provide poor focused services in health, water and sanitation and • Protect the natural environment and bio-diversity.

To my esteemed ACP Colleagues, I address my heartfelt gratitude for granting me the honour and the privilege of serving as the ACP Co-President of this esteemed Joint Assembly. You have given me the opportunity to make a contribution to the relevance and the efficacy of our ACP Parliamentary activities. As I hand over the baton of leadership to my successor, I remain confident that our Assembly will continue to face the challenges and make a notable difference in the lives of the poor and the underprivileged members of the ACP communities.

In closing, permit me a small reference to a recent joint mission to the Caribbean which allowed members of the JPA to become more familiar with the challenges facing us in respect of the proposed changes to the Sugar regime and other developmental concerns. I wish to place on record as I depart office, my great appreciation and gratitude for the frank, open and unquestionable support which my colleague Glenys Kinnock has given to Jamaica, Guyana, the Caribbean and the ACP as a whole, on the wide range of our development concerns.

I have been directed by my Speaker to present to Mrs Kinnock an enduring token of the appreciation of the Jamaican Parliament . In doing this, however, I believe I must say that this is also a personal gesture of respect for your spirit of co-operative support and the building of trust and confidence which best exemplifies partnership.

This work of art, a relief pottery entitled ‘Togetherness’, is crafted by Everard Powell, an artist from the inner-city of our capital, who received training in Italy.

In handing this over, Glenys, let me use a simple Jamaican phrase: “Respect Due.”

Your Royal Highness Madame Co-President Honourable Parliamentarians Your Excellencies

8 Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen

I thank you all for the courtesy of your keen attention. It is my hope that this Assembly will be marked by constructive, well focussed debate aimed at solutions for the benefit of those whom we represent. In the end, this is all about our partnership and the people we serve.

9