Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 14 December 2012/ UN: The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) voiced support for the United Nations General Assembly’s draft resolution to declare a Decade of Sustainable Energy for All from 2014 to 2024.

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 10 December 2012/ ACP: National heads from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific will convene this week in the Central African Republic of Equatorial Guinea for the 7^th Summit for ACP Heads of State and Government.

Under the theme “The Future of the ACP Group in a Changing World: Challenges and Opportunities”, the summit is set to be a milestone for the 79-member bloc, which includes 40 Least Developed Countries and 36 Small Island Developing States.

Paramaribo, Suriname, 2 December 2012/ ACP: Parliamentarians from EU and ACP countries have called for deeper debates on relations between the two major blocs, with the Cotonou Accord up for final review in 2015, before closing in 2020.

Paramaribo, Suriname, 29 November 2012/ ACP: The Secretary General of the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific States Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas has expressed profound regret at the European Council’s proposal last week to cut development aid funding by more than 7%, compared to figures put forward by the European Commission.

Co-Presidents' Declarations:

Beyond the Cotonou Partnership Agreement ( FR )

Paramaribo, Suriname, 27 November 2012/ ACP: As the sole region out of seven ACP negotiating blocs to sign a full free trade deal the European Union (EU), the fate of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will likely influence EU trade talks with other groupings.

Paramaribo, Suriname, 25 November 2012/ ACP: The President of Suriname joined fellow Head of State from Guyana in welcoming parliamentary delegates from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group last weekend, calling for stronger economic cooperation amongst its 79 member states, less reliance on foreign aid, and a united voice on global development issues.

(ACP Secretary General H.E Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of Guyana H.E Donald Ramotar, President of Suriname H.E Desire Delano Bourtese, President of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly Hon. Musikari Kombo, Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname Hon. Jennifer Geerling-Simmons)

Paramaribo, Suriname, 22 November 2012/ ACP: The Secretary General for the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group H.E Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas was decorated Commander of the Order of the Palm by the President of Suriname on Thursday, in a special ceremony at the Royal Torarica Hotel.

The honour is reserved for special merits in the civilian or military area.

Paramaribo, Suriname, 22 November 2012/ ACP: ACP parliamentary sessions opened today with the Committee of Political Affairs hearing updates on critical situations in ACP states, including the crises in Somalia, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Resolutions on these topics are expected at the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) next week.