Brussels. 11 July 2007.  The country strategies for countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific regions currently being finalised must be subject to an effective democratic scrutiny.  A Eurostep briefing paper says that only the European Parliament can ensure such scrutiny of the Commission's preparations of these proposed strategies.  It notes that the European Commission is placing a strong emphasis on good governance in ACP countries.  The European institutions should therefore lead by example and ensure that there is parliamentary scrutiny over the long term multi-annual plans for use of EU development funds in ACP countries. Plans for involvement of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in which representatives from the European Parliament sit together with MPs from national ACP parliaments has an equally important role in assessing these national strategies, but ultimately the European Parliament must take responsibility for overseeing the Commission's role in the process.
See Eurostep Briefing No. 39