Members of parliaments from the African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries are gathered for the 5th Regional Meeting of the ACP-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly which was officially opened by Vice-President Danny Faure.

Present were Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Patrick Herminie, leader of government business and opposition leader in the National Assembly Marie-Louise Potter and Wavel Ramkalawan, acting-presidents of the ACP-EU joint parliamentary assembly Odirile Motlhale and Elie Hoarau.

The African Union’s Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra, chairman of the Seychelles National Assembly international affairs committee Waven William, ministers and principal secretaries and other members of parliaments were also there.

Delegates present at the meeting are from various African region countries and organisations such as Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Madagascar, Mauritius, the African Union and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created to bring together the elected representatives of the EU, members of the European Parliament and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states that have signed the Cotonou Agreement.

This agreement is aimed at reducing poverty and contributing towards sustainable development and to the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy.

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of President James Michel, Mr Faure said the ACP countries must stay committed to their goals and decisions, but at the same time be flexible in the approach to create their own model for development.

He said the joint assembly has already established a strong position as a forum for dialogue and the exchange of ideas, and at the same time fully recognizing the specificities of small island developing states.

He added that indeed all the ACP countries remain committed to regional integration and development.
“Seychelles has benefitted significantly from the ACP-EU cooperation and we hope to strengthen it further especially in the fight against piracy,” he said.

The regional workshop on piracy to be hosted by Seychelles next week is expected to draw up a regional counter piracy plan of action, he added.

Mr Faure said another priority is our economic reform programme introduced in 2008, which has allowed us in only a short period of time to reduce our total debt stock, encourage businesses and build up our country’s external reserves to close to US $200 million.

He said the EU tripled its aid to Seychelles during that period and changed its aid strategy from project approach to budget support approach.

“The ACP-EU Partnership Agreement is unique as it is an opportunity for the beneficiaries and donors of development aid to discuss priorities and programmes for intervention together as partners,” he added.

And together with the EU and the ACP, the government of Seychelles will work relentlessly towards a successful outcome of the negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

The successful conclusion of this negotiation will promote policies designed to enhance competitiveness and economic wellbeing, greater social cohesion, peace and security and ensure greater market access of our goods and commodities, Mr Faure said.

In his address Mr Motlhale said the issues for discussion in this meeting reflect some of the pressing challenges in this region; such as political stability and governance and climate change which is also a global concern.

Attaining the Millennium Development Goals is also one of our prime concerns, he added.

Mr Motlhale said some of the long running conflicts in Africa have been resolved as a result of comprehensive peace agreements.

He said restoration of effective statehood in Somalia for instance, and the provision of suitable conditions for political, economic and social reconstruction at national and regional levels are the main areas in which ACP-EU development cooperation can play a complementary role.

Talking about the role of parliamentarians, Mr Motlhale said the recent revision of the Cotonou Agreement has highlighted the importance of the parliamentary dimension to ACP-EU cooperation.

It has given new opportunities for parliamentarians as well as joint parliamentary assembly level to have an input in carrying out this agreement, he said.

Mr Herminie said the regional meeting “will yet again provide us with the opportunity to play our role in the framework of the ACP-EU cooperation, especially with regards to heightening public awareness of development issues such as fisheries”.

He said the Joint Parliamentary Assembly also open new possibilities for greater partnership between the national parliaments and will hence strengthen their role as the legislative arm of government.

“Through the Joint Parliamentary Assembly we can now influence decisions taken at the highest level of the EU,” Mr Herminie added.

Talking to members of the media after the opening ceremony, Mr William said the high-level conference is a time for parliamentarians to also bring forward the concerns of the people relating to the issues on the agenda.

He said Seychelles has hosted this meeting as it stands to benefit more when members of parliaments of other countries including the EU representatives are here on-site.

The delegates are expected to visit the Victoria Port and the Indian Ocean Tuna canning factory during their time here.
Mr William added that with the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU has been given greater powers and hence we will be able to get their support.

On Tuesday evening, delegates were hosted to a reception at State House by President James Michel.