Brussels, 16 April 2018 /ACP/EU:The 68th meeting of the ACP-EU Joint Committee of Ambassadors took place on Friday 13 April 2018 in Brussels, under the chairmanship of H.E. Mrs. Sheila Sealy Monteith Ambassador of Jamaica and Chairman of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors.

The meeting was co-chaired for the European Union by H.E Mr. Dimiter Tzantchev Ambassador of Bulgaria and Chair of the Permanent Representatives Committee of the European Union.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed various issues ranging from the future relations between ACP countries and the EU post-2020 to the issue of climate change and the upcoming COP24 set to take place on 3-14 December 2018 in Poland. Views were also exchanged on Migration and Economic Issues such as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA’s).

The two parties agreed to prepare a joint declaration on climate change for adoption by the Joint Council of Minister’s meeting in Lomé (Togo), to reiterate ACP and EU countries commitment to fully and effectively implement the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The ACP-EU Joint Committee of Ambassadors also agreed to remain engaged in cooperative spirit in order to ensure that Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA’s) become true instruments of development for ACP states. Therefore, they agreed to define a common framework for monitoring the various EPA’s.

At the end of the meeting, the ACP-EU Joint Committee of Ambassadors agreed to the provisional agenda of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers to be held in Lomé, Togo on the 31st May and 1st June 2018.

ACP Press