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

Brussels, 12 June 2006

The 11th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Vienna, Austria. from 19 to 22 June 2006 It will be preceded by the 4th meeting of the ACP Consultative Parliamentary Assembly and the ACP Members of the Standing Committees scheduled for 15 and 16 June 2006.

At its meeting, the ACP Parliamentary Assembly will appoint its President who will also be the Co-president of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. The ACP Parliamentarians will examine the draft agenda and draft work programme for the 11th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. The ACP Consultative Assembly will appoint two chairpersons and a rapporteur for the three workshops to be held in Vienna. Lastly, it will take stock of the Secretariat’s financial situation and decide on the date and venue of the 5th session of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly.

The ACP Working Group on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the ACP Working Group on Conflict Management will meet successively on Thursday 15 June 2006.

During the 11th session, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will hear reports from the Standing Committees on The role of regional integration in the promotion of peace and security (Political Affairs Committee); The energy problem in ACP countries (Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade) and Fisheries and its social and environmental aspects in ACP countries (Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment).

The Parliamentarians will examine the emergency issues concerning Bird Flu and the situation in Sudan.

The Parliamentarians will also have the opportunity to hold discussions with the ACP and EU Council Presidents, and the European Commissioner in charge of development.

In addition, a Women’s Forum will be organised in the margins of the 11th session of the JPA.