European Parliament
-28-29 March: Mini plenary session (Strasbourg)
-27 March: Committee on Foreign Affairs
-27 March: Committee on Development
-26-27: Commission on International Trade
Council of Ministers
-28/30 March: COREPER I
-28-29 March: COREPER II
-26 March: General Affairs Council (International Trade)
ACP Group
-26 March: S/C on Political, Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Affairs
-27 March: Enlarged Bureau of the Committee of Ambassadors
-27 March: W/G on the Future perspectives of the ACP Group
-29 March: Committee of Ambassadors
-30 March: 4th meeting on ACP-EU Dialogue on Migration
You can also read our newspaper “CTA Brussels Daily” (fed by our Twitter account), follow our new Facebook group CTABrussels and our Twitter account CTABrussels to receive up-to-date information on EU-ACP events.
During the last Brussels Development Briefing, held last February and which dealt with Pastoralism, experts and policy-makers discussed the main challenges and opportunities for pastoralists in ACP countries. But how are these issues dealt with on the European side of the equation? Joep Van Mierlo, Director of Veterinarians Without Borders-Belgium, met with CTA-Brussels and spoke about the main goals of the organisation and its work in Africa.
The next Brussels Development Briefing will focus on “Small island economies: from vulnerabilities to opportunities” and take place on April 4th, 2012. It will be organised by the CTA, with the European Commission (DG DEVCO), the ACP Secretariat, Concord and various media partners.
The Briefing will discuss policy options to reduce the vulnerability of small islands economies. We will also discuss some best practices to enhance sustainable development, especially in the context of Rio+20.
You can follow the updates and register online at brusselsbriefings.
Ministers recently held an exchange of views on the simplification within the framework of the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform. Many delegations expressed concern as the six principles which were outlined in March 2011, have not been taken sufficiently into account in the CAP reform package presented by the Commission. Fearing the potential significant increase in the administrative burden, most delegations voiced concern over the introduction of a definition of an active farmer.
In the course of the last Council meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries, which was held in Brussels, ministers exchanged views on the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF). Delegations mentioned aquaculture as a key EU priority to meet the objectives and obligations of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).