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[CTA - Brussels Office Newsletter N° 314]
Subject: [CTA - Brussels Office Newsletter N° 314]
Send date: 2012-03-19 18:53:01
Issue #: 130
Content:
Bulletin CTA

1

This weblog shares information on key ACP-EU programmes and events
from Brussels relevant to agriculture and rural development in ACP countries.


Date : [DATE]
CTA Brussels Newsletter

 

Main events in the week
  1. Main ACP-EU events for the week from 19/03 to 25/03/2012
  2. Our video guest: Maryam Abeiderrahmane, CEO, Tiviski
  3. Next Brussels Development Briefing
  4. EU-Namibia Political Dialogue
  5. Refugee resettlement priorities for 2013
  6. Looking for more Caribbean participants
  7. Ghana to boost production of legal lumber
  8. EC low Carbon Roadmap: supported by MEPs
  9. Rapid action to stop Schmallenberg virus
  10. EU countries lack will for joint foreign policy
  11. EP to put an end to 20-year hormone beef trade war
  12. EP to endorse the Commission´s low carbon Roadmap
  13. EP gives consent to renew the International Cocoa Agreement
  14. €1 million emergency aid decision for Magadascar
  15. EU supplementary development funds to help in Botswana
  16. EU eased restrictive measures against Ivory Coast
  17. ACP condolences over the recent death of Hon. Brizan
  18. Kenya asks for time for EAC members “to reach consensus”
  19. EU takes initiative to account for rural CO2 emissions
  20. EAC: will finally EPAs lead its development?
  21. EU interested in opening EU member states market to Sudanese goods
  22. EC to narrow gap in common accounting of greenhouse gas emissions


  1. Main ACP-EU events for the week from 19/03 to 25/03/2012
    2012-03-19
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Archive, Regional Fisheries, Food Security, Food Policy, ACP-EU Policy

    European Parliament
    -20-22 March: Committee on Foreign Affairs
    Council of Ministers
    -21 March: COREPER I
    -21 March: COREPER II
    -19-20 March: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
    ACP Group
    -19  March: Committee on Political Affairs
    -19 March: Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade
    -19 March: Bureau of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly
    Research events
    -22 March: EU Budget beyond 2013: which expenditure and which resources?

    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.




  2. Our video guest: Maryam Abeiderrahmane, CEO, Tiviski
    2012-03-19
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, ACP-EU Policy, Food Policy

    What are the main market access problems for pastoralist products? In the course of the last Brussels Briefing, entitled “New challenges and opportunities for pastoralism in ACP countries”, we spoke with Maryam Abeiderrahmane, CEO at Tiviski Dairy, in Mauritania. She explained to us that the beginning of Tiviski was difficult as a result of several factors, including traditional prejudices against selling milk, as well as consumer preferences for imported goods. Notably, she underlines that Mauritania has faced trade barriers when dealing with the EU.


    Link Watch the video
    Link Know more about Tiviski
    Link Briefing on Pastoralism


  3. Next Brussels Development Briefing
    2012-03-19
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy, Environment

    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 in partnership 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.
    Among the speakers confirmed we have: Cheick Sidi Diarra, Under Secretary General and High Representative for the LDCs, Land Locked Developing Countries and SIDS; Professor Lino Briguglio, Director, Islands and Small States Institute; Iosefa Maiava, Head of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Sanjesh Naidu from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Ena Harvey from IICA.
    You can follow the updates and register online at brusselsbriefings.




  4. EU-Namibia Political Dialogue
    2012-03-16
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Policy, ACP-EU Trade

    In the course of a one-day EU-Namibia Political Dialogue, Raul Fuentes, Head of the EU Delegation in Namibia, brought attention to the fact that the EU is Namibia's second most important commercial partner after South Africa, and is well ahead of countries such as China or the United States of America. He also stressed the role of the EU as a  development partner, as it is the leading donor for  education, water and sanitation projects.
    Namibian Foreign Affairs  minister also said the dialogue includes issues of mutual concern, such as EU-Namibia relations, regional and sub-regional, as well as international global related challenges. "Namibia acknowledges the fact that the EU has been a key provider of development assistance […] when many other partners have pulled out and reduced their assistance. I therefore would like to commend the EU for the continued support to Namibia. Despite the challenges involving Eurozone countries, the EU continues to provide steadfast, solid support," he added.

    Source: Allafrica


    Link Read more
    Link EU-Namibia
    Link EU Delegation in Namibia


  5. Refugee resettlement priorities for 2013
    2012-03-16
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive, ACP-EU Policy

    The Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted a decision which introduces EU refugee resettlement priorities for 2013, as well as new rules on the financial support that the member states receive from EU funds to accommodate refugees from outside the EU in their territories (resettlement). Notably, the amending decision introduces six EU resettlement priorities for 2013, notably including refugees and displaced persons in the Great Lakes Region (Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia),  Somali  refugees in Ethiopia as well as Eritrean displaced people in Eastern Sudan.
    Under the new decision, member states will be entitled to receive from the European Refugee Fund a fixed amount of EUR 6 000 per resettled refugee, if they are applying for such compensation for the first time; EUR 5 000 per refugee, if the state had already applied for such compensation once before; or EUR 4 000 for all other states.
    These new co-financing rules are an addition to the existing legal framework that regulates the European Refugee Fund (EUR 630 million) over the period 2008-2013. The Fund was established to co-finance national efforts in receiving refugees and displaced persons and guaranteeing them access to consistent, fair and effective asylum procedures. It also finances related EU-level action.
    The co-financing from the Fund includes member states' actions such as improvements to accommodation infrastructure, integration of persons whose stay in the territory of a member state is prolonged and stable, training to ensure access to asylum procedures, legal and social assistance, etc.
    To make the planning of expenditure from the European Refugee Fund easier for the Commission, member states are asked to provide plans by 1 May this year, indicating how many refugees per priority group they plan to resettle in 2013.
    These changes are part of broader revisions of the European Refugee Fund, which are being discussed by the Council and the European Parliament for the new EU financial perspective 2014-20.

    Source: Council of the European Union


    Link Read more
    Link Know more about Refugees policy
    Link Council decisions' Press release


  6. Looking for more Caribbean participants
    2012-03-16
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Policy

    The European Commission (EC) seeks more participants of the Caribbean in the Intra-ACP Academic Mobility scheme designed to fund exchanges of students and researchers in ACP countries. Only one proposal has been received so far. “While there was a satisfactorily high level of applications submitted in the first year of selection for Africa, there is nevertheless still a need to achieve a more balanced regional spread among applications for the Caribbean and Pacific regions”, said  the EC spokesperson.
    The Intra-ACP Academic Mobility scheme, issued on 10 February, is intended to promote higher education cooperation between countries in the ACP. In order to ensure budget availability for the next calls for proposals, and based on the experience of the first call, the available budget has been maintained for the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

    Source: European commission


    Link Read more
    Link Know more about the Mobility scheme
    Link How to apply?


  7. Ghana to boost production of legal lumber
    2012-03-16
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development

    Ghanaian local communities would produce lumber to shore up the volume of legal lumber supply for the domestic market. This would be achieved through the implementation of a project by Tropenbos International (TBI) Ghana, that seeks to link local communities to forest concession holders to produce legal lumber under the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), African Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) and the European Union (EU) Forest Law Enforcement Governance Trade (FLEGT) support program.
    Dr. Attah Alhassan, from the Timber Industry Development Division of the Forestry Commission, and who launched the program, stated: “Without a strong domestic market, our industry cannot grow. We need to look out for weaknesses in this collaboration to ensure a strong front.”

    Source: Ghanabusinessnews


    Link Read more
    Link EU-Ghana
    Link ACP Flegt programme


  8. EC low Carbon Roadmap: supported by MEPs
    2012-03-16
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment

    As the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) was recently informing, the European Parliament (EP) was expected  this week to endorse the Commission's low carbon 'Roadmap' by a large majority. MEPs, who have broadly supported the Commission proposal’s, have adopted a non-binding resolution that calls the EU to harness its energy, transport and agriculture policies to cut CO2 emissions - and improve its Emissions Trading System (ETS) - to make the economy more competitive and dramatically less dependent on fossil fuels by 2050.
    Following their previous calls to increase the EU's 20% emissions reduction target for 2020, this resolution warns that the current short-term goal is "not on a cost-efficient pathway" to deeper cuts that must be made in light of climate change.

    Source: European Parliament


    Link Read more
    Link Know more about the Roadmap
    Link Text adopted


  9. Rapid action to stop Schmallenberg virus
    2012-03-16
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Archive, Food Security

    According to the European Parliament Press service, MEPs  call the EU to take coordinated action to tackle the Schmallenberg virus and reassure the public and its trading partners. Moreover,  some speakers criticise restrictions imposed by some countries on imports of EU live animals and meat in response to the outbreak as "unjustified" and called for their removal.
    MEPs also say the Commission should facilitate proper exchange of information, provide data to EU Member States and speed up research on vaccines. Some speakers also suggested that farmers affected by the virus should receive compensation.
    The Schmallenberg virus, which causes congenital malformations in cattle, sheep and goats, has affected more than 1,200 farms so far in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the UK, Italy and Luxembourg.

    Source: European Parliament


    Link Read more
    Link Statement on the Schmallenberg Virus
    Link 'The EU must take action'


  10. EU countries lack will for joint foreign policy
    2012-03-15

    Can we speak of an EU foreign policy? Erkki Tuomioja,the Finnish foreign minister, has said EU countries are more divided than before the Lisbon Treaty came into force (2009).  These remarks were made by Mr. Tuomioja following talks with his EU counterparts in Copenhagen last week.
    In a phone interview with The Euobserver, he said that "[t]he real problem is with member states and their willingness to work together - this should be a basic pre-condition when we start a discussion on this or that subject, there should be no red lines ... [But] the commitment to this is actually less than it was five years ago. The Lisbon Treaty has given us a new instrument but this is a matter of political will.”
    The Lisbon Treaty in 2009 called for the creation of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and a new EU foreign policy chief, a post later filled by Catherine Ashton.
    Mr Tuomioja highlighted that nobody criticised Ashton at the Copenhagen event,. However he said that he saw that  they "[…] don't speak as openly to each other as we should, even behind closed doors."

    Source:  The Euobserver


    Link Read more
    Link Treaty of Lisbon and FP issues
    Link Impact of TL on ACP-EU


  11. EP to put an end to 20-year hormone beef trade war
    2012-03-15
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade

    MEPs recently approved EU concessions to help conclude the 20-year hormone beef trade war with the USA and Canada, and which was proposed by the International Trade (INTA) Committee  last January. Rapporteur Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl has stated that this decision  is a “win-win resolution for the EU” and that the  Parliament has taken a step that “will enable the EU agricultural industry […]”
    According to the Parliament,  the deal allows the EU to keep its ban on imports of hormone-treated beef, in return for increasing its quota for imports of high-quality beef from the US and Canada.
    Moreover, it would raise the EU's quality beef import quota to 48,200 tonnes. The US and Canada, for their part, have already suspended duties, imposed in retaliation against the EU's hormone-treated beef ban, on previously "blacklisted" products originating in 26 EU Member States (all except the UK), worth over US $250 million at today's prices.

    Source:  European Parliament


    Link Read more
    Link Help bury the hatchet in beef hormone conflict
    Link Imports of high-quality beef:


  12. EP to endorse the Commission´s low carbon Roadmap
    2012-03-15
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment

    The European Parliament (EP) is expected this week to endorse the Commission's low carbon 'Roadmap' by a large majority. The document provides a policy framework for the EU to achieve an 80-95% reduction in its CO2 emissions by 2050.
    Its formal endorsement by EU governments was blocked at the Environment Council by Poland last week, which argued against the setting of interim targets or milestones, although the overwhelming majority have signalled their support. Cross-party support from MEPs will be welcomed by the Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, who will argue that it strengthens her authority to bring forward practical proposals for achieving the objective.
    Rapporteur Chris Davies, , argues that the EU needs to adopt  a clear strategy in order to promote industrial investment. “Climate change is not currently top of the political agenda but a long term approach is needed to combat it.  The more we do now the easier it will be in the future."Europe cannot solve the world's problems by itself but changes are inevitable.  Either we take a lead in promoting a low carbon economy or we will get left behind," he said.

    Source: ALDE


    Link Read more
    Link Cutting emissions by 2050
    Link Know more about the Roadmap


  13. EP gives consent to renew the International Cocoa Agreement
    2012-03-15
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade

    In January, the International Trade (INTA) Committee recommended the Parliament (EP) to give its consent to a new International Cocoa Agreement and adopted a resolution calling for action against the use of child labour in cocoa fields. Parliament has followed the advice of INTA Committee and recently gave its consent to renew the agreement. Likewise it took the opportunity to raise awareness of the problem of child labour and child trafficking in the sector.
    In a debate with Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs before the vote, rapporteur Vital Moreira said that  the new International Cocoa Agreement would give them "more instruments to address this issue", although "more needs to be done". "All policymakers and stakeholders involved in cocoa production must live up to their responsibilities to eradicate child labour from cocoa production,” he added.
    According to the EP Press service, West Africa produces 70% of the world's cocoa and employs 7.5 million people in the sector. Extracting cocoa seeds is highly labour-intensive, since mechanical cutting often damages the seeds.

    Source: European Parliament


    Link Read more
    Link INTA Committee demands action
    Link Text adopted


  14. €1 million emergency aid decision for Magadascar
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive

    Following the 2012 cyclone season in Magadascar, which resulted in a serious humanitarian needs situation in the country, the European Commission will allocate a €1 million emergency aid decision to help the most vulnerable with life-saving assistance such as water, health and shelter.
    Speaking of the EU response, Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, has state “[Is] equally important to boost disaster resilience for the future – this will diminish the impact of storms and will prevent new humanitarian emergencies".
    According to a EC Press release, the cyclone Giovanna made landfall on 14 February in the south of Taomasina, a port city of 1 million inhabitants, affecting communities along a 120 km stretch of coastline. At least 35 people were killed and 240,000 were displaced. Two weeks later, on 26 February tropical storm Irina hit the south-eastern Iflandiana district and killed at least 72 people and affected 70,000. Madagascar is prone to cyclones and tropical storms, particularly during the rainy season between January and April.

    Source: European Commission


    Link Read more
    Link EU-Magadascar
    Link Cyclone Giovanna


  15. EU supplementary development funds to help in Botswana
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy

    According to recent reports, the EU has given Botswana 26.6 million euro to finance short-term Fluctuations in Export Earnings (FLEX). The minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Matambo said  that this funding  comes under an agreement between  Botswana and the EU for the allocation of supplementary development funds.  
    FLEX would safeguard socio-economic reforms and policies that could be affected negatively as a result of a drop in revenue emanating from the 2009 financial and economic crises. "Botswana is a mineral export-based economy and during the 2010 period, diamond sales decreased dramatically as a result of the world economic and financial crisis," said  Mr Matambo. According to the Monitor Business, for this reason the EU has given  additional funds to Botswana. "These funds are intended to contribute to the goals of National Development Plan 10 (NDP 10) by strengthening human resource development and supporting public sector reforms," the minister added.
    Ambassador Gerard McGovern , the Head of the European Union delegation to Botswana and the Southern African Development Community(SADC),  said that the supplementary grants would support the government's economic diversification drive through their integration into the ongoing Botswana-EU human resource development programme.

    Source: Monitor Business



    Link Read more
    Link EU-Botswana
    Link Know more about FLEX


  16. EU eased restrictive measures against Ivory Coast
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Archive

    According to recent reports, the Council of the EU has eased restrictive measures against Ivory Coast. It lifted asset freezes and visa bans on all but 15 persons: eight individuals designated by the United Nations and seven persons autonomously designated by the EU due to their role in obstructing the process of peace and national reconciliation. This decision will not alter the remainder of the EU's restrictive measures on Ivory Coast.
    Restrictive measures imposed by the EU may target governments of third countries, or non-state entities and individuals (such as terrorist groups and terrorists). They may comprise arms embargoes, other specific or general trade restrictions (import and export bans), financial restrictions, restrictions on admission (visa or travel bans), or other measures, as appropriate.

    Source: Council of the EU


    Link Read more
    Link EU-Ivory Coast
    Link Know more about restrictive measures


  17. ACP condolences over the recent death of Hon. Brizan
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Policy

    The ACP Secretariat has conveyed its deep condolences over the recent death of former Prime Minister of Grenada Hon, George Ignatius Brizan. He served as President of the ACP Council of Ministers and Co-President of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers in 1994, a period which saw the commencement of the Mid-Term Review of the Lomé IV Convention.  He will be laid to rest in a state funeral on 16 March in the Caribbean country’s capital, St George’s.
    Hon. Brizan was also known as an international statesman, a historian, an author and an educator, as well as being the founding father of the ruling National Democratic Congress party. In the course of his prominent political career, he served as Prime Minister of Grenada for several months in 1995.
    Information from the Embassy of Grenada in Brussels states that the body of the former Prime Minister will lay in state at the Grenada Trade Center on 15 March from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

    Source: ACP


    Link Read more
    Link George Ignatius Brizan
    Link The EU and Grenada


  18. Kenya asks for time for EAC members “to reach consensus”
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy

    According to an article published by the ACP Press service, Kenya recently  appealed to the EU to give the East African Community (EAC) states more time to come up with a unified position on trading with Europe under the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA). As CTA Brussels was informing several weeks ago, former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa noted that there are three options on the table for the EACs to choose from, the first one being Kenya alone to sign the EPA. However it would have a “devastating effect” on the EAC Customs Union. Second and third option option would be  EAC members to sign the EPA or walk away from it. Last week,  Kenyan prime Minister Raila Odinga said the country stood to lose heavily in the current arrangement because all the other EAC states enjoy Least Developed Country (LDC) status, earning their goods duty free access to Europe."We are keen on an arrangement that allows us to negotiate with Europe as a community and not as individual states,” he said.
    In the course of a meeting with President of the European Commission last week, Jose Manueal Barroso, Mr. Odinga asked for time “to sort out differences, and reach consensus". The EAC member states are negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreement, a new trade arrangement to replace the non-reciprocal trade preferences granted under the 2000 Cotonou Agreement.
    Kenyan prime Minister said that while Kenya supports the aim of EPA’s, it is uneasy with any arrangement that will apply duties to Kenyan exports while leaving other EAC countries duty free.

    Source: ACP


    Link Read more
    Link EU-Kenya
    Link Tanzanian government asks for EPA review


  19. EU takes initiative to account for rural CO2 emissions
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development

    The EU executive has recently proposed new harmonised rules to account for greenhouse gas emissions from forests and agriculture within the EU’s climate policy. Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said in a statement that this initiative is the “first step to incorporate these sectors into the EU's [emissions] reduction efforts.” As in Durban “all countries agreed revised accounting rules for these sectors”,  the EU “ is now delivering with this proposal, ” she added.
    The proposed new rules will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the European Council, along with an obligation for member states to adopt action plans for greener forestry, soil and agriculture practices. According to an EU statement, a proposal for national emission reduction targets for these sectors “may come later once the accounting rules have proven robust”.  
    Efforts to mitigate rural carbon dioxide emissions have only been partly recognised by the EU, due to a lack of common accounting rules and problems associated with robust carbon data collection from forests and soils.

    Source: EurActiv


    Link Read more
    Link  EC proposal
    Link What Durban means for EU agriculture


  20. EAC: will finally EPAs lead its development?
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy

    According to recent reports, East African Community Secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera, has stated that the region is committed to successfully completing the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Last week, while receiving letters of credence from Amb. Johnny Flento,  representative of Denmark to the EAC, he made a number of remarks on the EAC-EPA issue. Notably, he stated: "We want EPAs to lead to development of our region and strengthen regional integration”.
    As we have been informing our readers in recent weeks, talks between EAC and European Union (EU) to conclude EPA negotiations are ongoing, thought in a constant state of uncertainty. The EAC and EU have failed to agree on EPA negotiations since 2007 when talks kicked off.
    Speaking of the EPAs, Amb. Johnny Flento said that Denmark is in favour of regional integration and announced it would use its position as the current chair of the EU to push for development of friendly EPAs.
    Furthermore, the EAC Secretary General signed a Financing Agreement that will see Denmark provide EAC with a grant of 18 million Danish Kroner (approximately $3.2 million) over a three-year period beginning 2011/12 to 2014/15.

    Source: AllAfrica


    Link Read more
    Link End of market access?
    Link Which way will they jump?


  21. EU interested in opening EU member states market to Sudanese goods
    2012-03-14
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade

    Benechua Garrido, in charge of the Sudan file of the EU,  and Secretary General of the Sudanese Federation of Employers, Bakri Yousif Omer recently held “successful” talks. Garrido affirmed his interest in providing support and technical assistance to Sudanese business sector, besides assistance in opening the market of the EU member states to Sudanese goods and products.
    Bakri Yousif Omer, who recognized to be satisfied with the meeting, explained that they discussed the need to focus on small and medium productive sectors that contribute to the fight against poverty and achieve social stability through training, funding and transfer of expertise. They also spoke of how to create and strengthen the cooperation relations between the entities and organizations of business sectors in Sudan and European countries.

    Source: Sudan Vision


    Link Read more
    Link EU-Sudan
    Link Considering other options


  22. EC to narrow gap in common accounting of greenhouse gas emissions
    2012-03-12
    NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment, Rural development

    Following the decision of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on revised accounting rules from soils and forests adopted in December 2011, the EU seems to determined to close the gap in common accounting in its climate policy. As the European Commission (EC) has adopted a new proposal on accounting of greenhouse gases emissions, it “has taken a first step towards incorporating removals and emissions from forests and agriculture into the EU's climate policy”, says the EC Press service.
    According to the EC, this will provide new opportunities. Notably, it will reward farmers for their contribution in the fight against climate change in the context of the common agricultural policy. Speaking of Durban, Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard says  that “[..] all countries agreed revised accounting rules for these sectors" and "[t]he EU is now delivering with this proposal. He also highlights that this initiative “will also contribute to protect biodiversity and water resources, support rural development and have a more climate-friendly agriculture."

    Source: European Commission


    Link Read more
    Link Not just farming
    Link Durban Platform for Enhanced Action



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Please feel free to forward this newsletter to other interested colleagues.

Ms Isolina BOTO
Head
CTA Brussels Office
39 rue Montoyer
1000 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 2 513 74 36 (direct); Fax +32 (0) 2 511 38 68
E-mail: boto@cta.int
Website: http://www.cta.int/
Brussels weblog: http://brussels.cta.int/
Brussels Briefings: http://brusselsbriefings.net/

Editor: Alejandra Morales (morales@cta.int)

NOTE
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For more information on the full range of CTA activities please go to http://www.cta.int/
More information on CTA activities in Brussels at : http://brussels.cta.int/
CTA is an institution of the ACP Group of States (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) and the EU (European Union), in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and is financed by the EU.
Copyright © 2011 Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU. Email:cta@cta.int
The opinions expressed in the comments and analysis are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of CTA.

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