NINETEENTH AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON BOOSTING INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE

Addis Ababa, 3^rd July 2012 – The 19^th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is scheduled to take place from 09 to 16 July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Holding under the theme: “Boosting Intra-African Trade”, the 19^th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union will officially kick off on Monday 9^th July 2012, with the 24^th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC).  The PRC will discuss items on the agenda in preparation of the upcoming AU Summit, to be submitted to the Executive Council for adoption.

According to the PRC agenda for the 19^th AU Summit, the Ambassadors will, for two days (09 and 10 July 2012) exchange views on specific reports including the reports of the Advisory Sub-committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters; sub-committee on programmes and conferences; sub-committee on structures; multilateral cooperation;; economic and trade matters; the report on the NEPAD as well as that of the refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa). They will consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

On the other hand,  the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will hold from 12 to 13 July 2012 at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa. The Ministers of External Affairs and other ministers or authorities designated by the governments of AU Member States will deliberate on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised by the AU Commission during the last six months.  They will consider the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the PRC on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures.

The Executive Council will further look into reports of some AU Organs including the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the African Committee of the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the Union (ECOSOCC); the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption; and the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) before embarking on the consideration of items proposed by Member States. One of the high moments during the Executive Council meeting will be the election of Commissioners of the African Union and the election of three judges of the African Court of Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) as well as the appointment of one judge of the AU Ad-Hoc Administrative Tribunal. 

The 19^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union is scheduled to take place on 15 and 16 July 2012.

AU Summit to Discuss President’s Report of Activity:

The AU Heads of State and Government will consider the recommendations of the Executive Council on the report of the Commission on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; the report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa, including the activities of the Panel of the Wise; the report of Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC); and that on Africa’s preparation for the Climate Change Negotiations at the 18^th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP18), in his capacity as Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

The Presidents and Heads of Delegations will also exchange views on the report of Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo and Africa’s Coordinator on the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) .They will discuss the report of Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the Committee of Ten on the UN Reforms.

The Assembly will further consider the report of the High Level Committee of Heads of State and Government/ Chair of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on Boosting Intra-African Trade, among others. According to the agenda of the Summit, the Heads of State will proceed to the election of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

For more information, consult the African Union website: www.au.int  and visit the 19^th Summit web page of the AU at the following link:  http://au.int/en/summit/19thsummit