Brussels, 1 November 2017/ ACP: Members of civil society, private sector, and other economic and social partners from across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific gathered for the first dialogue of its kind at the ACP House on 30-31 October, to provide input on major issues affecting ACP countries, such as climate change, private sector development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the future of ACP-EU relations.

Brussels, 30 October 2017/ ACP: The President of Sierra Leone H.E. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma addressed the Committee of Ambassadors of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States on Monday 30 October to express solidarity with ACP countries as they work to reorient their future as an effective group and global player, while also preparing to negotiate a new and improved partnership with the European Union post-2020.

Brussels, 26 October 2017/ ACP: The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States has followed with great interest the democratic developments in Kenya. In this regard the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States recalls the historic ruling by the supreme court of Kenya on 1^st September 2017 that called for fresh elections to be held on 26 October 2017. The ACP Group commends the people of the Republic of Kenya for going to the polls; this once again illustrates Kenya’s commitment to democratic governance.

Brussels, 24 October 2017/ UNDIO/ ACP: The first symposium dedicated to the cooperation between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), took place today at the ACP Secretariat in Brussels. The Secretary General of the ACP, Dr. Patrick I. Gomes and UNIDO Director General, LI Yong, took part in the event, which focused on “Boosting ACP Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization through job creation, value chains, and productive investment.”

Brussels, 24 October 2017/ ACP/ UNIDO: ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick I. Gomes and UNIDO Director General Mr. LI Yong will open the Symposium on “Boosting ACP Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization through job creation, value chains and productive investments” organized to celebrate the ACP-UNIDO DAY.

This event is jointly organized by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Secretariat (ACP Secretariat) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Brussels, 20 October 2017/ ACP/ EC: During the Joint Ministerial Trade Committee held on 20 October 2017, the ACP and the EU discussed preparations for the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Buenos Aires on 10-13 December 2017.

Brussels, 20 October 2017/ ACP: Ministers and senior officials responsible for Trade from 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries reaffirmed their strong and resounding commitment to the multilateral trading system, at the conclusion of the 20th ACP Ministerial Trade Committee meeting held in Brussels on 18-19 October.

Brussels, 19 October 2017/ ACP: The regime that manages the EU sugar market changed from 1^st October 2017 with the removal of domestic quotas.  Sugar suppliers to the EU under  Economic Partnership Agreement and the Everything But Arms (EBA) Initiative, comprised mostly of small and vulnerable economies, had strongly opposed the abolition of EU domestic sugar quotas when it was first mooted in 2013.