At the 19th Joint ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly, held in Tenerife (Spain), parliamentarians asked the European Commission to increase aid to ACP and EU banana producers in order to help them adapt to the new regime and receive compensation for financial losses they might face because of new tariff rules laid down by the EU-Latin America “banana agreement”.
The agreement is expected to put an end to fifteen years of “banana wars” between the two continents, but has raised concerns for the livelihood of producers in some regions. The agreement, initialled on 15 December last, but not yet ratified, reduces import duties for products from Latin America and the Caribbean. Members asked for a study to be carried out on the social, economical and environmental impact of the new tariff accord.
Spain (and the Canary Islands), with 350 000 tonnes produced in 2009, is one of the most important banana producers in the EU. The three other major European producers are France (with Guadeloupe and Martinique), Greece and Portugal. Yet the majority bananas sold in Europe come from Latin America (72% in 2008).
Niger and Madagascar relegated to observer status
Spain’s Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, told ACP-EU JPA Co-Chairman Louis Michel that the next meeting of EU Foreign ministers would examine the possibility of stepping up sanctions against Madagascar. Louis Michel insisted that the Council of Ministers should align European sanctions against Madagascar on those already imposed by the African Union.
The JPA, which twice a year brings together 78 MEPs and 78 parliamentarians from African, Caribbean and Pacific states, relegated the delegations of Niger and Madagascar to observer status, without voting rights, due to the lack of constitutional order in their countries.
Mr Michel noted that Niger was “making positive proposals which go in the right direction”. Equatorial Guinea, also the scene of political trouble, did not send any delegates to the Tenerife meeting.
Situation in Somalia
“The situation in the Horn of Africa could rapidly deteriorate into a new Middle-East”, warned Co-Chairman Louis Michel. “A comprehensive strategy is needed for the entire region – an individual solution for Somalia will not suffice,” he insisted.
Economic and financial crisis
The impact of the economic and financial crisis was the subject of two reports debated on Tuesday, 30 March, and adopted on Thursday, 1 April:
Next meeting
The 20th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) from 2 to 5 December 2010.
