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{
    "id": 896069,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/896069/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 255,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Saku, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ali Rasso",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13473,
        "legal_name": "Dido Ali Raso",
        "slug": "dido-ali-raso"
    },
    "content": "would cover later in my presentation on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), considers this as negotiation of unequals. On the other hand, the EU provides aid through what is considered the single significant aid package through the European Development Fund through the provision of predictable resources and accounting for a larger share of the European development aid. They also considered other sources of aid to the ACP countries, the growing number of alternative competing policy and institutional framework such as what is considered as the Joint Africa Europe Strategy where the African Union, in particular through the African Continent Free Trade Agreement, is asking them to trade with us. We want an African free trade area, but Africa is poised to look at the continental position as more viable because Africa is considered as the best negotiating framework particularly in the area of trade. The other issue is post-Cotonou. As you are well aware, the ACP was founded in 1975 in Georgetown, which is in the Caribbean. During that time, the Cotonou Agreement was the main instrument through which negotiation was carried out, but through the years there have been Lomé 1 up to Lomé 4. By February of 2020, the Cotonou Agreement will come to an end. It is the major concern of the regions of the ACP and the EU on how they intend to proceed from February 2020 onwards. In the current setup of negotiation, there is a central negotiating group and three technical negotiating teams based on three identified pillars. In this, Kenya and Ethiopia from our region were nominated to the central negotiating team representing the East African region. It is important to note that the overall budget for the European Development Fund between 2008 to 2012 was Euros 22,682,000. One of the concerns that parliamentarians raised in the use of the European Development Fund is that it must be transparent, accountable and properly channeled. At times, the European Development Fund goes directly to countries or even to departments through the European Union Commissioner who is in the country of residence. It is considered that unless these funds are properly quantified, parliamentarians cannot fight for the money or say that the money is adequate or it has been used in certain projects which are important to development in the ACP countries. Looking at initiatives by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, some of the important matters that they have discussed and also attempted to implement and reinforce in the ACP-EU countries include things such as the upgrading of the role of women in developing countries, the integration of environmental policy in development and promotion of trade as a tool for development particularly by way of EPA foreseen in the Cotonou Agreement. It also includes the drawing up of rural development programmes and micro-projects tailored to the needs of specific communities, promotion of regional, political and commercial cooperation and closer cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations engaged in development. It also includes aid to indebted poor countries pursuing structural adjustment policies, measures to enhance the cultural dimension in North South cooperation, acceleration of aid procedures and the increase in appropriation for refugees and displaced persons. It also includes measures to reinforce commitment to respect and defend human rights and human dignity. It is important to identify the interest driving the ACP in their relation with the EU. First of all, that relationship is anchored on unity and solidarity. In the increasingly globalised and regionalised world, the ACP countries which are normally the poor, indebted and least developed countries look at how to engage with the European Union. The reality beyond 2020 will be dominated by differentiation with the aid being concentrated on least developed countries primarily in Africa. The issue of migration and stability is also key to defining this relationship. When you watch Cable News Network (CNN), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Al The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}