The Minister for National Planning & Monitoring Richard Maru is attending the ACP Ministerial Central Negotiation Group meeting in N’Djamena, Chad, to receive a status report and consider consolidated ACP-EU text on elements relating to the Post Cotonou Agreement. The Ministerial Meeting will be followed by the meeting of the Chief Negotiators on 4th April, 2019.
He is leading the PNG delegation comprising of Ambassador Joshua Kalinoe, Acting First Assistant Secretary Development Cooperation and Management, Department of National Planning & Monitoring Ms. Loia Vaira and Project Director Mr. Roger Kara. The delegation is representing the Pacific region, together with the delegation from Samoa, led by Prime Minister, Grand Chief Tuilaepa Aioni Sailele Malielegaoi.
Both leaders met today and exchanged views on the agenda in order to provide a common Pacific position, especially on the issue of regional Agreement for PACP states in the region.
Ambassador Kalinoe who is assisting the Minister in the negotiations said the ACP Ministerial Central Negotiation Group (CNG-M), comprising Ministerial representations from the six ACP regions in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific will meet on 3 April, in preparation for the Chief Negotiators meeting with the EU on 4 April, 2019.
The current Agreement expires in 2020 and the parties are negotiating a new replacement Agreement.
Among other things, the Ministers will consider the consolidated ACP-EU texts on elements of the replacement Agreement relating to Human and Social Development, Environment Sustainability and Climate Change, Peace and Security and Human Rights, Democracy and Governance.
Ministers will also consider and provide appropriate directions to the Ambassadorial Central Negotiation Group (CNG-A) on the progress made to date on the draft ACP-EU consolidated text relating to Part 3 of the Agreement on Inclusive, Sustainable Economic Growth and Development. This section of the proposed Agreement deals with trade, investment, industrialization, technology, research, and innovation.
Ambassador Kalinoe is representing the Pacific region as a core member in the technical negotiations relating to this section of the Agreement.
Meanwhile, technical negotiations on Part 4 of the Agreement that deals with Development Cooperation, and means of Implementation, including Funding arrangements is yet to commence.
Ambassador Kalinoe said the ACP side is ready to commence negotiations on this section of the Agreement and is waiting for the EU side to complete consultation among its member states. It is expected that the negotiations and comparison of consolidated text will begin soon.
Source: Media Release
