On 25 June 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on the Sahel/Mali. The Council reiterated the EU's strategic and comprehensive engagement towards the Sahel region. The Council reaffirmed that the EU will continue to support the stabilisation efforts of the G5 Sahel countries as a basis for the development of the Sahel.

ACP Secretariat

26 June: Bureau of the Committee of Ambassadors
27 June: Brussels Briefing no.51: «Agriculture as an engine of economic reconstruction and development in fragile countries»
28 June: Committee of Ambassadors

European Parliament

25 June: European Parliament Committee Meetings
26-28 June: BeeWeek 2018: European Week of bees and pollinators
28 June: European Parliament Committee Meetings

The next Brussels Development Briefing no. 51 on ”Agriculture as an engine of economic reconstruction and development in fragile countries ” will take place on 27 June 2018 from 09h00 to 13h00, ACP Secretariat, Brussels 451 Avenue Georges Henri, 1200 Brussels. This Briefing will be organised by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in collaboration with the European Commission / DEVCO, the ACP Secretariat, and CONCORD.

Today, the European Commission received authorisation from the Council to open negotiations for a new partnership agreement with countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). The European Commission welcomes the Council decision allowing to launch the negotiations with the ACP group of States in the coming weeks. The existing framework, known as the Cotonou agreement, is due to expire in February 2020.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has allocated a € 10 million loan in support of the 34 MW* Ngonye solar power plant in Zambia. The project is promoted by multinational energy company Enel and will also be supported by loans from the IFC (World Bank Group) and IFC-Canada Climate Change Program.