On the occassion of his intervention at the Brussels Development Briefing on Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP countries on Wednesday, 10th March at the Borschette Centre, Prof. Boot explained to us the three missions of Tropenbos International: Research, Capacity Building and Dialogue to improve the managment of forests. He also pointed at the challenges faced by ACP contries in safeguarding the biodiversity of forests. Prof. Boot stressed on the necessity for ACP countries to consider forests as assests and not just timber.

The 18th Brussels Development Briefing will be on natural disasters, humanitarian assistance and rural development and will take place on 12th May 2010 (8h30-13h00) at Berlaymont, Room Schuman. This Briefing will discuss Humanitarian needs and responses looking first at recent trends and challenges and innovative and responsive approaches to future challenges. 

A European Parliament study on the impacts of WTO negotiations on fisheries underlines the significance of trade in fisheries for the EU-27 as the leading import market for fish products in the world. The EU-27 share of world import amounts to 30 percent in value. Imports originate mainly from Norway, China, Iceland and the USA. Around 10 percent of EU-27 imports are imported from ACP countries.

Jamaican government received a $2.2-billion European Union grant to offset a shortfall in earnings resulting from the closure of the island's bauxite companies last year. The grant funds, however, will not be utilised in direct assistance to the bauxite sector but will instead go to Government's budget support.