Activities of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly in 2003

The European Parliament adopted by 494 votes in favour, 5 against with 15 abstentions an own-initiative report drafted by Colette FLESCH (ELDR, Luxembourg) on the work of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in 2003. (Please see the summary of 20/01/04.) Parliament ccongratulated the JPA Bureau on the missions to Cote d'Ivoire, and to the Caribbean and approved of the increased cooperation between the JPA and the United Nations. Following the failure of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Parliament felt that the JPA could play a more effective role as a forum for dialogue on this issue which is vital to the developing world. It endorsed the JPA's involvement in the WTO Parliamentary Conference. Finally, Parliament welcomed Commissioner Nielson's stated support for an increase in funds for the JPA to an amount of around EUR 6 million, in accordance with Article 8 of the Financial Protocol.�