ACP/EU in Rome, October 2003

The 6th Joint Parliamentary Assembly was held in Rome, from 11th to 15th October 2003. The Assembly adopted reports on:

· Children’s Rights and Child Soldiers in particular;
· Use of the European Development Fund;
· Sustainable Management and Conservation of Natural Resources in ACP Countries.

John Bowis was the EPP-ED Shadow Rapporteur on the Sustainable Management and Conservation Report and tabled amendments with Anders Wijkman MEP (EPP-ED, Sweden), including to:

· highlight the inadequate efforts to harness the huge potential of biomass and solar energy;

· note the gap between EU policy objectives for sound management of natural resources and actual policy implementation;

· to call on the European Commission and ACP Countries to negotiate at the WTO for a ban on the import of non-certified timber and to support alternatives to the commercial bushmeat trade;

· to argue for part of the proceeds from logging projects to be allocated in support of affected local communities.