Activities of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly in 1998

The Committee has adopted the report by John CORRIE (EPP, UK) calling for the Joint Assembly to be given a more prominent role. It welcomes the fact that 75-85% of the ACP representatives are elected. It says Parliament should take part in election-monitoring missions organised by the Commission and should accept invitations from ACP countries to observe presidential and legislative elections, provided conditions are safe, as proper monitoring is essential if the problems of the democratisation process are to be realistically assessed and progress made. The committee notes that the Joint Assembly is increasingly becoming a forum for discussion of basic human needs (e.g. universal access to primary education, drinking water and health care) and environmental and social issues. Lastly, the committee calls on Parliament to take account of the Joint Assembly's position when taking any decision on foreign policy and development issues and asks the EU Member States, the Council and the Commission to do likewise.�