Foreign Minister Sven Mikser was on a visit to Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday for the 34th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. In his remarks at the meeting, which brings together, EU, African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, Mikser focused on the root causes of migration, natural disasters, and provision of EU aid to countries in the Pacific region. Mikser was in Haiti substituting for the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini.
Mikser said the root causes of migration and instability in Africa must be dealt with in order to reach a solution. “Around 60% of the population of Africa is comprised of under-25-year-olds who are capable of working. Hence the clear goal of the European Union’s foreign investment plan – to create jobs in Africa and Europe’s neighbourhood precisely for young people,” he said. “Creating good-paying, high-quality jobs is one solution that will help us get closer to the root causes of migration and instability."
The EU’s commitment to the Caribbean countries is long term, said Mikser. “We have helped the Caribbean region in the case of disasters and supported them to be better prepared for natural disasters. The EU has also been responsive and effective in providing aid to Pacific Ocean countries."
On the margins of the Assembly, Mikser met Haitian colleague Antonio Rodrigue and Jamaican counterpart Kamina Johnson Smith. At the meetings, Estonia’s experience in implementing e-governance solutions was discussed, and Mikser introduced the Estonian campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
The EU and the assembly delegations from the Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific regions represent a total 107 countries.
Additional information:
Armo Vask
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Communication Department
[email protected]
+372 637 7618
+372 5666 8581
