The 100th Session of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Council of Ministers met in Brussels, Belgium from 9-12 December, 2014 for an historic session of the Organization.
Ministers from the ACP engaged for the first time incoming administrative representatives of the new European Commission, including Frederica Mogherini, the high representative for foreign affairs and security and Neven Mimica, commissioner for international cooperation and development. Representing The Bahamas at the ministerial council was Ambassador Rhoda M. Jackson, Bahamas permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva.
The landmark session was particularly important for the CARIFORUM member states, as the new secretary general to lead the ACP Secretariat for the next five years, from 2015 to 2020, was to come from the region. On Wednesday, December 10, the ministerial council approved the appointment of Dr. Patrick Gomes, current ambassador of Guyana to the European Union, as the new secretary general. The region is to also serve as the host of the next ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The council met at a critical juncture as the Cotonou Agreement expires in 2020 and there is a need to redefine the future cooperation arrangement between the European Union and the countries of the ACP, within the framework of the post-2015 development agenda. The Report on the Further Perspectives of the ACP Group and the Interim Report on the Eminent Persons Group would serve as the basis for these ongoing discussions. Other issues considered at the council included Ebola and support to the affected countries, the status of negotiations for the regional economic partnership agreements (EPAs) and development finance cooperation.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian