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

PRESS NOTE

Brussels, 31 March 2006

The 2nd ACP Civil Society Forum will be held in ACP House, Brussels, from 19 to 21 April 2006 to facilitate general political dialogue between ACP States and non-state actors. The Forum will emphasise the participation of non-state actors as stipulated in the Cotonou Agreement, especially in the areas of trade cooperation, political cooperation, implementation of cooperation projects and programmes, the fight against poverty, support for democracy and the Rule of Law, and the promotion of economic growth and sustainable development.

The discussions will lay the foundation for an ACP strategy to update the Plan of Action adopted in 2001 at the 1st ACP Civil Society Forum, and ensure the circulation of information on the ongoing programmes under the intra-ACP chapter of the 9th EDF. The meeting will examine the issue of civil society participation in the fight against HIV/Aids and the implementation of the ACP-EU Natural Disaster Facility. It will also deal with the promotion of Human Rights and democratic processes, the negotiation of the Regional Economic Partnership Agreements, the implementation of ACP-EU programmes in the area of ICT and the promotion of cultural industries.

The discussion of the Civil Society participation under the 10th EDF will be a cross cutting theme during the meeting.

Final Declaration of the First ACP Civil Society Forum

Plan of Action of the Second ACP Civil Society Forum

Background

The 1st ACP Civil Society Forum was held in Brussels, from 3 to 5 July 2001. It was organised by the ACP Secretariat, in collaboration with the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. The Forum dealt essentially with the issue of the participation of non-state actors in the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement. A Declaration and Plan of Action, setting out the general objectives and the specific procedures for strengthening the commitment and participation of non-state actors at all levels, were adopted at the end of the Forum. Discussions focussed on the increased participation of ACP Civil Society in political dialogue with ACP Governments and the European Commission.

The 1st Forum identified long-term objectives which are aimed, inter alia, at promoting capacity building at the national, regional and ”all-ACP” levels in order to prepare the ACP Civil Society for an effective exchange of information and expertise, to involve it in the programming of the NIPs, RIPs and the development projects of ACP States, while encouraging it to engage in dialogue and lobbying activities, especially in relation to trade negotiations.