Luanda - The secretary-general of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), Georges Chikoti on Sunday expressed concern about the apparent decrease in the commitment and willingness of Member States to contribute to the full functioning of the organization.
Speaking at the 64th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), he called on members to honor their financial contributions to the functioning of this international body.
Georges Chikoti acknowledged, before the Parliamentary Assembly, that the OACPS's financial situation "continues to be extremely difficult".
It revealed that, at the beginning of this year, 25 countries are currently under sanctions for failing to pay their 2023 contributions.
In this regard, he noted that the total amount owed by Member States, based on contributions made, debts and interest for the year 2023, is around €9.9 million, of which they received a total payment of 4, 1 million euros, leaving a balance of 5.8 million euros in unpaid contributions and debts at the end of 2023.
Georges Chikoti clarified that the European Commission is a contributor to the OACPS budget, for which the amount of its participation is conditional on that of Member States' contributions actually paid.
According to Georges Chikoti, in view of these extremely low levels of contributions, the Commission has taken serious measures, in particular refusing to pre-finance some of the joint activities that the organization intends to carry out in the future.
He noted that to guarantee the financial OACPS' viability, Member States must pay their contributions.
He called on parliaments to be the voice of the organization and to reiterate the need for their respective Governments to fulfill their financial obligations to the organization.
In this regard, he proposed that the Committee of Ambassadors, during its next reflection meeting, address the issue of the financial situation of the Secretariat.
He also assured that the organization's secretariat will soon facilitate an organizational meeting to address on the financial independence of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly.
Next Management, 2025-2030, the mandate of the current management of the OACPS Secretariat is expected to end in February 2025, with the new management team expected to begin its duties on March 1, 2025.
Georges Chikoti made it known that, in accordance with the decision of the 102nd Session of the OACPS' Council of Ministers, held in November 2015 on the rotation of the position of OACPS' secretary general, it will be the turn of the Central African region to appoint the next secretary -general.
He said he had informed the Committee of Ambassadors of the need to initiate the necessary steps to replace the current leadership.
In addition to the position, he said, the Committee of Ambassadors is preparing a reflection meeting that will include, among other things, the issue of the composition of the executive board, taking into account the financial situation of the Secretariat, the type of structure and set of skills needed for the implementation of the Samoa Agreement.
Samoa Agreement, which replaces the Cotonou Agreement, was officially signed on November 15, 2023 by the European Union (EU) and its Member States and by the members of the OACPS.
The new agreement paves the way for human development and progress in the fight against climate change, for the achievement of peace, security and good governance over the next 20 years, the period during which this agreement should be in force.
Georges Chikoti assured that the OACPS Secretariat remains committed, within its deeply restricted financial resources, to providing the necessary support to this Parliamentary Assembly to ensure that it remains fit for purpose.
The work of the 64th Session of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly was led by its president, Mozambican Ana Rita Sithole.
The OACPS, whose secretary general is the Angolan ambassador Georges Chikoti, is an international organization, resulting from the evolution of the ACP Group, which brings together 79 member states from three continents and aims to strengthen the capacity of the European Union and ACP countries to respond the global challenges as one.
DC/VIC/CF/DOJ
