ORDERLY CLOSURE OF THE CENTRE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTERPRISE (CDE)

The ACP Council of Ministers,

– meeting in Brussels, (Belgium), on 24th and 25th November 2015

A. CONSIDERING the resolution of the 101st session of the ACP Council of Ministers held in Brussels, Belgium, on 26, 27 and 29 May 2015, on the orderly closure of the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) and the setting up of the Light Structure on ACP private sector development support;

B. RECALLING the decision on the orderly closure of the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE), adopted by the joint ACP-EU Council of Ministers during its 39th session held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 19 and 20 June 2014 [ACP/21/007/14];

C. RECALLING the declaration on the joint ACP-EU Cooperation Framework for Private Sector Development in ACP Countries, adopted by the joint ACP-EU Council of Ministers during its 39th session held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 19 and 20 June 2014 [ACP/85/056/14];

D. REITERATING the need to adhere to the mandate of the joint Council of Ministers of Nairobi on completing the CDE’s ongoing support programmes for private sector development support in ACP countries;

E. UNDERSCORING the urgency of ensuring that the orderly closure of the CDE respects the rights of all stakeholders, avoiding any possible litigation;

F. TAKING IN ACCOUNT the final report on the closure of the CDE presented to the CDE's Executive Board on 29 and 30 June 2015 and on 24 and 25 September 2015;

G. CONCERNED by the lack of attention accorded by the CDE's Executive Board and the European side to the CDE's gains and good practices that should be identified, consolidated and transferred to a third structure in conformity with the joint declaration of Nairobi, Kenya on the CDE;

H. HAVING EXAMINED the Committee of Ambassador's report on the orderly closure of the CDE, presented during the 102nd session of the ACP Council of Ministers;

1. Urges the CDE's Executive Board and the European Union to ensure that the appropriate and expeditious procedures as determined by the special context of the CDE's orderly closure be implemented for a better transfer of the support programmes for private sector development still under way to the third structures identified;

2. Calls for the CDE's Executive Board and Curator, to do the utmost to ensure that the social dialogue is a success both at headquarters and in the regional offices, so as to ensure that all stakeholders' rights are respected and to avoid creating discriminatory practices likely to lead to legal action that could slow down the CDE closure process;

3. Calls for the CDE Executive Board to make all the necessary means available to finalise the work to consolidate the CDE's gains and good practices that need to be transferred to a third structure, in conformity with the joint declaration of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers in Nairobi, Kenya in June 2014;

4. Invites the President of the Council of Ministers to forward this Resolution to the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the EU Member States, the European Commission and the CDE Executive Board.

Brussels, 25th November 2015