Parliamentarians from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific have called for renewed multilateral cooperation and a restructured economic relationship delivering practical benefits to member states.
The call came during the opening session of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States–European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels, Belgium. Participants highlighted the importance of cooperation and dialogue amid wider geopolitical strains.
Focus on equality and practical cooperation
Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker and Co-President of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, said future international cooperation should be grounded in equality, mutual respect and shared solidarity rather than remaining at the level of rhetoric.
Tayebwa said the OACPS wanted an economic partnership capable of producing measurable benefits for its member countries. “The OACPS would like to see an economic partnership that delivers tangible benefits, including investment, local value addition, skills development and decent employment in our countries,” he said.
The assembly’s discussions also addressed the need to strengthen multilateralism as global pressures continue to test international cooperation. Speakers linked parliamentary engagement with efforts to navigate complex global challenges, while also pointing to economic and climate solutions.
Parliamentary dialogue
Jose Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; and Younous Omarjee, Vice-President of the European Parliament, emphasised the role of international parliamentary dialogue.
The opening ceremony featured pledges of cooperation despite broader geopolitical tensions. The assembly brings together lawmakers from the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union, representing citizens across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Tayebwa and Francisco Assis, the European Union counterpart for the parliamentary sessions, reaffirmed their aim of ensuring that negotiations produce practical outcomes for the citizens represented by the member states. Together, the OACPS-EU countries represent nearly two billion people.
The assembly’s leaders are seeking a partnership that moves beyond formal commitments and supports investment, domestic value addition, skills development and decent work. The source material does not specify detailed measures or an implementation timetable for the economic and climate priorities discussed.
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