The second OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly opened at the European Parliament in Brussels with calls from African speakers for an economic partnership that delivers investment and jobs, according to statements from Uganda’s parliament and Ethiopia’s embassy.
The assembly runs from 9 to 13 November and brings together lawmakers from the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.
What did African speakers ask of the OACPS-EU partnership?
Thomas Tayebwa, Uganda’s deputy speaker and co-president of the assembly, said cooperation must rest on equality and mutual respect. “The OACPS would like to see an economic partnership that delivers tangible benefits, including investment, local value addition, skills development and decent employment in our countries,” he said, according to the Parliament of Uganda.
Ethiopia’s State Minister of Finance, Tiguist Fisseha, speaking for Ethiopia’s presidency of the OACPS Council of Ministers, called for EU Global Gateway investments that match OACPS priorities and for action on debt. She announced that Ethiopia will host the council’s 122nd session in Addis Ababa on 18 and 19 January 2027.
What is the Samoa Agreement?
The 2023 Samoa Agreement replaced the Cotonou Agreement as the framework for relations between the EU and the 79-member OACPS. DNE Africa has covered Africa’s push for reform of global institutions, including its bid for permanent UN Security Council seats.
FAQ
Where is the OACPS-EU assembly held?
At the European Parliament in Brussels, from 9 to 13 November 2026.
Who co-chairs it?
Uganda’s Thomas Tayebwa and the EU’s Francisco Assis.
When will Ethiopia host the OACPS Council of Ministers?
On 18 and 19 January 2027 in Addis Ababa.
