Brussels, 22 April 2016/ ACP: Influential thought-leaders and eminent decision-makers from the EU and the ACP countries will convene to discuss the legacy and future prospects of the ACP-EU Partnership.

The longstanding partnership brings together 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the 28 Member States of the EU under a comprehensive cooperation agreement, covering trade, political dialogue and development cooperation.

Under the theme "From Lomé to Cotonou Post-2020: a changing perspective in the ACP-EU relationship", the High Level Event aims for a fruitful exchange of views in order to evaluate past experience and debate options for ACP-EU relations beyond 2020, when the current Cotonou Partnership Agreement is due to come to an end.

The President of Senegal H.E. Macky Sall is scheduled to open the event in a joint ceremony with the 41st session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers on Thursday 28th April. The opening ceremony will also feature ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick I. Gomes, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Mr. Neven Mimica, and the Co-Presidents-in-Office of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, H.E.Léon Raphaël Mokoko, Minister of Planning and Integration of the Republic of Congo, and Ms. Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The panel debate will be led by a number of influential figures, including:

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria and Chair of the ACP Eminent Persons Group

Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Former President of Guyana, Member of the ACP Eminent Persons Group

Mr. Pascal Lamy, Former WTO Director General and EU Trade Commissioner

Ms. Linda McAvan, MEP Chair of the DEVE Committee of the European Parliament

Mr. Louis Michel, MEP Chair of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, former European Development Commissioner

Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UNOWA, Former ACP Secretary General

Mr. Mahamat S. Annadif, Head of MINUSMA, former Foreign Minister of Chad and former African Union Representative

The event is co-organised by the ACP Secretariat and the European Commission. It represents a first opportunity to jointly discuss the ACP-EU relationship at this level since internal processes for reflection on the topic were launched by both sides.

To register:http://www.acp-eu2016.com/

For more information, contact:

Josephine Latu-Sanft
ACP Press Office
+32 2 743 0617
latu@acp.int