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DECLARATION OF THE ACP PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY ON
THE EU SANCTIONS ON ZIMBABWE

The Parliamentary Assembly of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of states, meeting in its 34th session in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on 22 and 27 November 2013,A. Having regard to the Georgetown Agreement, the Constitutive Act of the ACP Group of states, and the charter of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly,

B. Having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, amended in Luxembourg on 25 June 2 005, and amended for the second time in Ouagadougou on 23 June 2010,

C. Whereas by Council Decision 2002/148/EC, the EU adopted measures to suspend cooperation with Zimbabwe in the framework of Article 96(2)(c) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, which have been renewed and maintained every year since,

D. Considering the progressive steps taken by the Government of Zimbabwe and the opposition to restore political and economic stability, including signing the Global Political Agreement of 2009 between the ZANU-PF and MDC formations under the mediation efforts of the SADC Heads of State and Government, which led to the establishment of a Government of National Unity and the subsequent adoption of a New Constitution by National Referendum on 16 March 2013,

E. Whereas the EU Council Decision of 17 February 2012 recognised that the creation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) was an opportunity to re-/establish a constructive relationship between the European Union and Zimbabwe and to support the implementation of its reform program,

F. Recalling the undertaking by the EU to respect both the outcome of the harmonised elections of 31 July 2013 and the assessment of those elections by ACP Group, SADC and African Union observations missions.

G. Considering the grave economic and social consequences of EU Sanctions on Zimbabwe, which have caused untold human suffering as a result of company closures, with attendant job losses, which inter-alia, compromised the ability of the Government to provide basic social services,

1. Appeals to the European Union to honour its undertaking to respect the verdict of SADC and the African Union on the harmonised elections of 31 July 2013, which constitute a positive and important milestone in the recent history of the country, and which have laid the foundation for sustainable political stability and rehabilitation of the economy, including the reconstruction of the physical and social infrastructure of the country.

2. Hereby calls for the lifting of EU Sanctions against the Government of Zimbabwe, and the normalisation of relations between Zimbabwe and the European Union,

3. Instructs its President to forward this Declaration to the EU Council, the ACP Council, The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

• Done at Addis- Ababa, 27 November 2013.