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{
    "id": 951640,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/951640/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 207,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Kamar",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 33,
        "legal_name": "Margaret Jepkoech Kamar",
        "slug": "margaret-kamar"
    },
    "content": "they include the EDF, providing predictable resources and accounting for a larger share of the EU development aid than any other external instrument. This has been discussed because of the fact that the amount of money that comes under the European Development Fund has always been limited and the ACP groups have been pushing for an increase. The other area is the growing number of alternative competing policy and institutional framework such as the Joint Africa-Europe Strategy, which is posing a major challenge over policy coordination and coherence for the various partners involved. This became a major debate because the European Union seemed to have indicated at that stage that they would like to deal with Africa as Africa and not as ACP and yet the foundation of this parliamentary Assembly, the ACP-EU, is the union between the African, Caribbean and the Pacific Groups, knowing very well that the ACP groups are actually brothers and sisters. This is because the Caribbean and the Pacific residents are people who left Africa long time ago. During these meetings discussions were held on whether the European Union will continue with ACP the way it is or they will go regional, so that they deal with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific separately. This proposal was strongly opposed by the ACP group because of the belief that the only reason we have the ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly is so that we realize the unity of the ACP Group. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, at the time the discussions were going on, there was a meeting of AU in Rwanda. There was a communication that was sent by our delegation of the ACP Group of parliamentarians to our Heads of State to make it very clear that we stand by the position that ACP remains one and we are very happy that pronouncements were made. Our own Head of State made the pronouncement in Rwanda that we will not break the ACP Group or negotiate with the EU as entities of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific separately, but we must work together because of the importance of keeping these three groups in a united state. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Cotonou partnership agreement which links the EU and its 28-Member States with the tri-continental group of 79 states, that is, the ACP Group is, as I said earlier, going to end in 2020, and negotiations are on. It is often hailed as a very unique agreement, taking into account its legally binding nature, holistic approach to development, comprehensive scope, covering the three pillars of aid, trade and political cooperation and the joint management arrangements that have been put in place. It offers a single framework for the operation of the European Investment Bank in the ACP countries. That is why Members of Parliament from the 79 partner states from the ACP Group insist that this grouping of ACP must continue. The Cotonou Agreement that replaced the Lome Convention was concluded for a period of 20 years, commencing in the year 2000. That is why it will lapse in the year 2020. The ACP and the EU have, therefore, begun in earnest the internal consultations on the future of the relationship and whether we will remain in the same structure or the structure will change. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}