It gives me great pleasure to join in welcoming you all, on behalf of the ACP Group of States, to this e-Governance Conference 2017, hosted by the Republic of Estonia. We are grateful for the hospitality accorded to us since our arrival here in the beautiful city of Tallinn. This high-level e-Governance Conference 2017 is a significant occasion, as it provides a unique opportunity for ACP Member States to engage in deliberations and share experiences with the international community on the critical issues pertaining to the embracing of e-Governance for sustainable development in developing countries.

Bonn, 18 May 2017/ DG CLIMA/ ACP: The European Union and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific developing countries, who together make up more than half of the signatories to the Paris Agreement on climate change, today reaffirmed their strong and steadfast commitment to full implementation of the agreement, urging all partners to keep up the momentum created in 2015.

Bonn, 17 May 2017/ ACP: The ACP Secretariat is organizing, in partnership with the African Union Commission, a side event in the margins of the Bonn climate Change Conference 8-18 May, which includes the forty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 46) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 46) as well as the third part of the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-3), taking place in Bonn, Germany.

Brussels, 16 May 2017/ BB/ CTA/ ACP: This Thursday 18 May, the ACP Secretariat will host more than 150 ACP and EU policymakers, international development practitioners and experts, along with members of civil society, research networks, and the private sector this Thursday for the 49^th Brussels Development Briefing (BB49), with a focus on creating jobs and promoting entrepreneurship for youth in Africa.

Nairobi, 10 May 2017/ UNHABITAT/ ACP: A new USD 11 million has been secured for the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme to empower African, Caribbean and Pacific countries transform the living conditions of slum dwellers.

Brussels, 10 May 2017/ ACP: The ACP-EU Joint Council of Ministers agreed at its 42^nd session to amend the partnership agreement between the two blocs to allow for more effective support to ACP member states that suffer unexpected external shocks.

Brussels, 5 May 2017/ ACP: The Council of Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States closed its 105th session with two key decisions that will influence how the bloc of 79 countries will carve out a more effective role in the international arena.

Brussels, 3 May 2017/ ACP: The 105th session of the ACP Council of Ministers was opened today in Brussels, gathering high level officials from the 79 member states of the ACP Group to discuss and take decisions on major issues of common concern and interest. 

The 105th session of Council is presided over by the Minister of Finance and Cooperation of Ethiopia Dr. Abraham Tekeste. 

Following opening remarks by the ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick Gomes, the President-in-Office of the United Nations General Assembly, Amb. Peter Thomson of Fiji addressed the Council of Ministers as a special invited guest.

Your Excellency Ambassador Peter THOMSON, President of the 71^st UN General Assembly,

Your Excellency, Dr. Abraham TEKESTE, Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and President of the 105^th Session of the ACP Council,

Honourable Ministers,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,