OPENING REMARKS AND GUIDING NOTES
FOR THE
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI
HON. SEN. THULISILE DLADLA
HIGH LEVEL MINISTERIAL BRIEF FOR THE ACP AFRICA MINISTERS ON THE STATE OF PLAY OF THE AFRICA REGIONAL PROTOCOL
3 MAY 2019
ROYAL SWAZI SUN CONVENTION CENTRE
KINGDOM OF ESWATINI
(10:00 – 10:15)
Good morning, Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to welcome each one of you here today, on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Indlovukazi, the Government and People of the Kingdom of Eswatini, to our preparatory meeting of the ACP-EU Africa Regional Protocol Consultations.
We are grateful that you have made your way safely here to Ezwulini and I invite you to enjoy the amazing Kingdom of eSwatini during your stay.
The purpose of our meeting this morning, is to brief all Ministers and distinguished delegates here present on the State of play of the Africa Regional Protocol, which will be followed by a General Debate, where your active participation is anticipated and highly welcomed.
Our discussions this morning will constitute the basis for engagement with our EU counterparts during the ACP-EU Africa Regional Consultations on the Africa-EU Regional Protocol of the new Partnership Agreement between the EU and the ACP to be held this afternoon, here at this venue from 15:00, and to which we will all attend and participate fully.
This being the first meeting of ACP Africa Ministers for the Africa Regional Protocol, allow me to convey my best wishes, to everyone here present, and to our teams engaged in the negotiating process in delivering successful talks on behalf of the African continent and the ACP Group of States at large.
Allow me also to congratulate both ACP and EU for the work accomplished at the level of the Foundation Agreement by having concluded two Rounds of the negotiations so far. We are moving closer towards a single ACP-EU partnership Agreement that is balanced, fair and legally binding for a period of at least 20 years.
With the 3rd Round in progress, we are here today because the launch of the 4th Round of the negotiations is rapidly approaching. This 4th Round will see the Parties invited to commence in earnest the negotiations on the three regional protocols – Protocol for Africa; a Protocol for the Caribbean and a Protocol for the Pacific .
You may be aware that the regional consultations with the EU have already taken place for the Pacific region on 26 February 2019 in Samoa, and for the Caribbean region on 15 April 2019 in Jamaica, all with the aim to identify joint strategic priorities for each of the regions and the European Union.
Today, it is our turn to do likewise –during today’s consultations, we will clearly spell out the strategic priorities for the African region. We need to highlight what is important for us that will move the African continent towards the long awaited integration of our economies and societies. Our goal is for Africa to be prosperous and founded on inclusive and sustainable development.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers
This is also an opportunity for us to reiterate our solidarity with the ACP Group of States and the two other regions of the “C” and the “P”.
What we agree upon at the regional level has to be anchored on the main Agreement at all ACP levels.
Let us also use this time to provide guidance to our Ambassadors in Brussels, who have been mandated with the serious task of leading these negotiations on behalf of the African people, African economies and the African continent.
I cannot stress enough how important your participation will be during this preparatory meeting at Ministerial level as we prepare for our engagement with the EU side in the afternoon.
On this note, and without further delay, allow me to give the floor to the Chair of the Central Negotiating Group for the Africa Regional Protocol, His Excellency Mr. Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu, Ambassador of the Kingdom of eSwatini in Brussels, Belgium, to brief us on the state of play of the Africa Regional Protocol.
Your Excellency, Ambassador, you have the floor.
[Yield the Floor to the Ambassador]
Thank you Ambassador for the presentation.
Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers
I will now open the floor for your remarks and observations.
Let us first have your general remarks on his report and then we will proceed with more specific interventions on the strategic priorities presented in the draft skeleton and structure of the Africa Regional Protocol before us.
[Open the Floor for General Remarks]
Thank you all for your interventions and lively participation!
We can now move on to specific remarks and observations on the strategic priorities presented in the draft skeleton.
The floor is open
[Yield the floor for specific remarks on the strategic priorities of the Africa Regional Protocol]
Dear Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers
Thank you once again for your insightful contributions. All of them have been carefully noted down.
I believe we have exhausted the document and that we are now in a favourable position to engage with EU during the consultations of this afternoon.
According to the agenda for this afternoon, it is proposed that Ministers be identified to speak on each of the priority areas.
Can we do so now?
The Secretariat has prepared short guiding notes for the Ministers which they may use to speak this afternoon. Ministers have also engaged and followed the discussion. Therefore, we believe that it will be possible to expound on the various points on the respective topics.
[Consultations are held to identify speakers for the afternoon]
May I now invite you for lunch before we meet again for the Opening Plenary at 16:00, at this same venue.
The meeting is adjourned.