Parlementariërs van de ACS-landen ontmoeten Deense minister voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking (en)

160 parliamentarians from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and Europe had a number of questions for the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach during the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Horsens, ending today.

What will the EU do in relation to the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region? How will the EU ensure that illegal ivory is not smuggled across borders in Africa? What actions will the EU undertake to prevent hostage-taking in the Horn of Africa - and how will the EU ensure the rights of disabled persons in developing countries?

The inquisitiveness was huge among the 160 parliamentarians from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and Europe when the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach, on behalf of the EU Council of Ministers, was target for questions during the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Horsens, ending today. The Minister was enthusiastic:

"It is amazing to experience the dedication that characterizes this Assembly. And it is exciting to be part of the democratic dialogue within the ACP-EU partnership - a dialogue that gives parliamentarians the possibility to examine the relevant EU institutions. The parliamentarians have an important role in reminding us of our promises for instance on the level of development assistance."

The parliamentarians were also happy with the debate. Cornelius Mwalwanda, parliamentarian from Malawi said the following:

"The possibility to put questions to the EU Council presidency is one of the most important aspects of our Assembly. It offers us an insight into what the EU governments are thinking on issues such as development cooperation, climate and other global issues. In this context, I was glad to hear the Danish minister tell us about the adoption in the Danish Parliament on a new law on development cooperation."