The 63rd Session of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the 43rd Session of the ACP – EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (ACP-EU JPA) were successfully held in Brussels, Belgium from 19-28 June 2023.
In these biannual Assemblies, Ethiopia was represented by the delegation led by Honorable Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR).
Hon. Tagesse made important interventions on both parliamentary assemblies, among others, briefing about the current developments in Ethiopoa ranging from the Pretoria peace agreement to national dialogue and efforts put in a green legacy footprint.
Prior to the full assemblies of the parliaments Honorable Dr. Dima Noggo, Chair of the Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee of the HoPR, also addressed the Political Affairs Committee of the OACPS and the ACP-EU JPA, on key positive trajectories of peace building, humanitarian assistance, and steps taken on reconciliation.
Both parliaments have applauded positive developments in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian delegation also actively participated in different debates that took place in the session. In its deliberation, it called for an immediate signing of Post-Cotonou Agreement, particularly urged the European Union to finalize its internal procedure to sign the New Post Cotonou Agreement so as to avoid a legal vacuum after July 1, 2023.
On the sidelines, the Ethiopian delegation had bilateral meetings with different members of the European Parliament including Hon. David McAllister, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, Hon. Carlos Zorrinho, Co-President of the ACP-EU JPA, Hon. Udo Bullmann, Chair of Human Rights Sub Committee and Hon. Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee as well as other OACPS parliamentarians. During the bilateral meetings Hon. Tagesse briefed them the ongoing political developments in Ethiopia and the two sides discussed on issues of common interests.
On the conclusion of the JPA sessions, encouraging exchanges were made on moving forward the partnership agenda between the OACPS and EU.
The ACP/ OACPS- established by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975 and as revised in 2019 (also changing its name from ACP to OACPS)- is an international organisation comprising 79 Member States, with 48 from sub-Saharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific region. Ethiopia is a founding member of the organization.
