24.11.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 391/11 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE OTHER PART MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2015 (2015/C 391/03) Contents Page 1. Regional integration in the Pacific . 11 2. Urgent topic No 2: The situation in the Central African Republic . 12 3. Improving internal revenue generation capabilities in ACP states . 12 4. Building economic confidence through a genuine participatory democracy . 12 5. Summary reports from the workshops . 13 6. Vote on the motions for resolution included in the reports submitted by the three standing committees . 13 7. Vote on urgent motions for resolutions . 14 8. Approval of the minutes of the afternoon sitting of Monday, 15 June 2015 and of the morning and afternoon sittings of Tuesday, 16 June 2015 . 14 9. Any other business . 14 10. Date and place of the 30th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly . 14 ANNEX I ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY . 16 ANNEX II RECORD OF ATTENDANCE AT THE SESSION HELD IN SUVA (FIJI) FROM 15 to 17 JUNE 2015 20 ANNEX III ACCREDITATION OF NON-PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATES . 24 ANNEX IV TEXTS ADOPTED . 25 — RESOLUTION on cultural diversity and human rights in ACP and EU countries . 25 — RESOLUTION on the financing of investment and trade, including infrastructure, in ACP countries by the EU blending mechanism . 29 — RESOLUTION on the challenges and opportunities of education and vocational training in ACP countries . 34 — RESOLUTION on the natural disaster in Vanuatu (and neighbouring states): the way forward, including regional cooperation . 40 — RESOLUTION on the situation in the Central African Republic . 44 MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2015 (The sitting opened at 9.05 a.m.) IN THE CHAIR: Fitz A. JACKSON Co-President 1. Regional integration in the Pacific Debate with Meg Taylor, Secretary-General, Pacific Island Forum, and Colin Tuikuitonga, Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community C 391/12 EN Official Journal of the European Union 24.11.2015 Meg Taylor, Secretary-General of the Pacific Island Forum, and Colin Tuikuitonga, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, outlined plans for deeper integration of the Pacific/Oceania region, including sub-regional integration, and stressed the role of the EU as the region’s main development partner while highlighting differences over fisheries management policy with the EU. Speakers: Maurice Ponga, Norbert Neuser, Eirangi Marsters (Cook Islands), Felix C.M. Mutati (Zambia), Javier Nart, Tialavea Tionisio Seigafolava Hunt (Samoa), Lidia Senra Rodriguez, Michèle Rivasi, Sanjit Patel (Fiji), Tu’iafitu Lolomana’ia (Tonga), Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Davor Ivo Stier, Ole Christensen and Gediminas Varanavičius (Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific). Members underscored the importance of regional economic and political integration in a globalised world as particularly relevant for the Pacific region, given the small size of its countries, and the need to address challenges such as resources management, migration, and the threat of climate change. ACP members lamented the European Commission’s proposal to suspend the negotiations for the EU-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), while fisheries management policy would be reformed, and called on the EU to show the flexibility necessary to achieve an agreement. The European Commission underlined its continued commitment to conclude the Pacific EPA while allowing for the necessary time to modernise fisheries resource management in the Pacific region. 2. Urgent topic No 2: The situation in the Central African Republic Speakers: Kristin de Peyron (European External Action Service), Laurent Ngon-Baba (Central African Republic), Michael Gahler, Christophe Lutundula (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Kashetu Kyenge, Netty Baldeh (Gambia), Co-President Louis Michel, Mohamed Ben Oumar (Niger), Lidia Senra Rodriguez, Amos Fish Mahlalela (South Africa), Bodil Ceballos, Adjedoue Weidou (Chad), Ignazio Corrao, Agustin Diaz De Mera, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio and Joachim Zeller. Members noted encouraging developments in recent months, while stressing that the international community needed not to relent in its support for the transition in the Central African Republic, in particular in view of the goal to organise democratic elections by the end of 2015. The EU had made important financial contributions to the stabilisation of the country, but more commitment from others was needed, including military contributions with a medium-term perspective. The situation of refugees, the pending implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Repatriation agreement, the rights of children and the positive role of the interim President and that of leaders of religious communities in the Central African Republic were also highlighted. (The session was suspended at 11.00 and resumed at 11:01) 3. Improving internal revenue generation capabilities in ACP states Debate with Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Finance, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Communications (Fiji) Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Finance, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Communications of Fiji, explained that his country is following a consumption-led strategy, reducing nominal tax rates for individuals and micro and small businesses, as well as encouraging small-scale investments and increasing tax compliance. Speakers: Tesfaye Daba (Ethiopia), Davor Ivo Stier, Joyce Laboso (Kenya), Pedro Silva Perreira, James Munthali (Malawi), Petr Jezek, Felix Mutati (Zambia), Lidia Senra Rodriguez, Michael Gahler, Michèle Rivasi, Mikael Phillips (Jamaica), Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Kashetu Kyenge, Catherine Bearder, Carlos Zorrinho, Neena Gill, Michael George Peyrefitte (Belize) and Peter Craig McQuaide (European Commission). Members stressed the importance of limiting illicit financial flows and ensuring that international companies and the richest individuals in developing countries paid their taxes. 4. Building economic confidence through a genuine participatory democracy Debate with Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Finance, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Communications (Fiji) 24.11.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 391/13 Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum outlined recent reforms, the merits of the Fijian constitution and the enshrined principles of non- discrimination and the strengthening of social rights, while defending Fiji’s labour laws. Speakers: Agustin Diaz De Mera, Felix Mutati (Zambia), Neena Gill, Petr Jezek, Lidia Senra Rodriguez, Michèle Rivasi, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Joachim Zeller, Ole Christensen, Catherine Bearder, Davor Ivo Stier, Kashetu Kyenge and Kristin de Peyron (European External Action Service). Members welcomed Fiji’s return to democracy following the September 2014 elections and congratulated the country on its recent economic and political governance reforms. Questions were raised on Fiji’s economic policies and its relation to the regional and global context, the current role of the Fijian army, media freedom and civil society participation, as well as the economic inclusion of vulnerable groups like women and rural communities. EU Members put questions to the Minister over the ILO enquiry into the labour rights situation in the country. 5. Summary reports from the workshops Kembi Gitura (Kenya) made an oral report on the workshop on Fiji and the Pacific’s Experience in Combating Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, pointing to the need to strengthen policies for sustainable fisheries in Fiji and neighbouring Pacific countries, while informing Members of steps already undertaken in this respect over the past few years. Jo Leinen made an oral report on the workshop on addressing Climate Change in Fiji. It was urgent to address climate change, as the Pacific region was already experiencing its effects, for example in the rising sea level, and its very existence was being threatened. The rapporteur called upon the ACP-EU partners to join forces in view of the COP21 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December 2015. (The sitting adjourned at 13.00 and resumed at 15.08) Fitz A. JACKSON Patrick I. GOMES and Louis MICHEL Luis Marco AGUIRIANO NALDA Co-Presidents Co-Secretaries-General IN THE CHAIR: Louis MICHEL Co-President 6. Vote on the motions for resolution included in the reports submitted by the three standing committees The Co-President reminded the Assembly of the voting procedures. — Cultural diversity and human rights in ACP and EU countries (ACP-EU/101.753/15/fin) Committee on Political Affairs Report by Abdoulaye Touré (Côte d’Ivoire) and Davor Ivo Stier Amendment rejected: 1 Split votes with votes by separate houses on part 2 of the split were requested by the EPP Group on paragraphs 1, 12 and 31, resulting in the rejection of these paragraphs. The resolution thus amended was adopted by all Members present, except 1 vote against. — The financing of investment and trade, including infrastructure, in ACP countries by the EU blending mechanism (ACP- EU/101.868/15/fin) Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade Report by Malement Liahosoa (Madagascar) and David Martin C 391/14 EN Official Journal of the European Union 24.11.2015 Amendments