The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

Brussels , 4 September 2006

Rev:AM

12 September 2006

ACP House, Brussels

The 5 th meeting of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Brussels on 12 September 2006 and chaired by Hon. René Radembino Coniquet ( Gabon).

During the meeting, members of the Assembly will hold an exchange of views on the reports from the various Standing Committees, namely, ”Light and small calibre arms and sustainable development  ” (Committee on Political Affairs); ”The impact of Tourism in ACP countries ” (Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade); and finally “Water in Developing Countries ” (Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment).

The Parliamentarians will also hear the report from the Working Group on Economic Partnership Agreements before addressing the issue of financing of JPA activities by the ACP Secretariat.

• René Radembino-Coniquet, President of the Senate of Gabon, was appointed JPA Co-president by the ACP Parliamentary Assembly at its 4 th meeting in Vienna, Austria, He replaces Mr. Georges RAWIRI who passed away on 9 April 2006.

• The ACP Parliamentary Assembly was set up at Bamako, Mali, on 15 April 2005. It defines the common positions of ACP Parliamentarians with a view to contributing to the activities of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and promoting Intra-ACP parliamentary cooperation. It is composed of ACP Parliamentarians who meet four times a year.